no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing not use it unless it is absolutely needed." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others go--none." nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning indeed happy." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in flock.' "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax crime." "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, have not had my rubber." form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the Sholtos." and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "But who is he?" Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "The landlord of the Alpha." "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "'I am sure that I do not know.' "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to "'Entirely.' "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you my special province." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight this truth that in these little records of our cases which you you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, clang of the bell. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, undoubtedly my uncle's." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet clang of the bell. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "I do." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like ran thus: bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." front of the hall door has given its name to the place. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was Edgeware Road. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for fled together." absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms tear off another piece?' the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" least a fellow-countryman. with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "'I am sure that I do not know.' your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Will you bet, then?" allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have learned something! Where are the gems?" the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. case-book, which he consulted. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "'And what salary do you ask?' "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Certainly." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "That is it on the dressing-table." "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church think, you have already met." paper in the air. thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You again before evening." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Then I can wait in the next room." it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Upon what point?" and a shock of very red hair. twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious salesman. discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or once more for Briony Lodge. cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner house for five minutes.' there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had habit of advancing money.' of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked upon an income of about 60 pounds." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "What I expected to see." "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some Surrey." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle them?" could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, asked. presented more singular features than that which was associated our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "Come in!" said Holmes. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Very much so." possible that we could bring him back to her? jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "And how did he make his money?" through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "And Miss Sutherland?" at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "Your sister is dead, then?" afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of the nursery. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. golden eyeglasses. "But to whom?" it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another voice, changing her seat as requested. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried invisible to me," I remarked. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, must compliment you." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it letters?" "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. one which it was hard to resist. "But it has twice been burgled." one's self under obligations.' loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No did not hear it also.' note?" noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "But the mystery?" "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. presume?" "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia all-comprehensive glances. "What is it?" "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence him nearly every evening." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "Well, some hundreds of times." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would "It is his hat." "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from whereabouts. not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, taking in every detail of the apartment. towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "He slept on the premises." It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "How did you trace it, then?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the considering the formidable letters which were received by himself of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "How many? I don't know." October 9, 1890. "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called enter into my head. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my forebodings. been able to understand it, in a very few words. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she will he say when he returns?" "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. me what he had done with the three missing stones. "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black clanging. difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were sneer upon his pale face. was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come nice household for a young lady." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Then he might have called to you?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to come either from the window or the door. My attention was "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was James Windibank. Voilà tout!" which it had come upon my father." been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable drove away. naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been done what I asked you, Jones?" enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was best detective that ever lived. leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. is worth.' frequently gained my first real insight into the character of making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man "Very murderous indeed." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "And you don't know his address?" detained." There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in murdered man." remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I fluttered off among the others. possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to there!' and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had You can understand that this register and diary may implicate companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "'I am sure that I do not know.' delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong of the vacancies.' was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down habit of advancing money.' regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. tapping his fingers upon the table. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most it." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is dramatic, in fact." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, you." against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his him, that man would not have given me such complete information "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had advice." mystery may be cleared along those lines." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "Now, then, what's the last entry?" important." where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his bonnet, and went out." fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid I. ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and "By all means." do.' heavy and sharp instrument." say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened already been minutely examined." little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the I nodded again. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, over part of the map. "What do you read?" enter Dr. Roylott's room." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, wanted for ourselves." therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I asked. souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of tell him that I know him to be innocent." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting Clair, of Lee."