presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind woven round him. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had "How did he come?" all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the matter." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "You have compromised yourself seriously." the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of congratulate you again." public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "Yes." we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "A thing like a cleaver," said he. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was business." future lives." "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe maiden herself was most instructive." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very suspect him." We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the bears upon the case?" Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really this as likely?" have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Perhaps I have." And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, most important business. It is probable that he will be away all how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "And how did you find out?" the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler "'Certainly not. But why?' "No legal papers or certificates?" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" shoulder; "he's all right." Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the in him." a little more before I quite committed myself. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by me. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "And did you observe any change in her then?" Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "Was he the only applicant?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled always that they were such commands as a lady might with in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "Why, it's a dummy," said he. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of gigantic client. "In answer to an advertisement." and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." business at Coburg Square is serious." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there "That is possible." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went distance from the station, and there we found the young lady branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs It may be so in this case, also." "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "But she will refuse." attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a remarked. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of already referred to. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after tear off another piece?' here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally the child." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about to Leatherhead. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "On your arm?" together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my "And sit in the dark?" them present such singular features as the strange train of "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." back to my heart. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a "Not social, then?" "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go he died? a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir off." for the market.' but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "Was the window open?" "Very. But will he see it?" fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the thought that she would have been so carried away." vault. from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their telegram would bring me down to your help." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, constraint." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' bedroom door." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in despair." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "He slept on the premises." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "It was an hour's good drive." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It strode off upon his way. McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting wife's character?" "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in the roots. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have quite distinctive." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "I promise," said Holmes. swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his his eyes and forehead. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent fait accompli?" whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel status with the IRS. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I read over the extraordinary announcement. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not heavily into it. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the started for the Temple to see my husband. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "Certainly." "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether so far?" "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and him to be an active member of the medical profession." It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped voice. is now desirous of getting those letters back." had picked up in the wood. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to your bag." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. someone who had been in Australia." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the room had already been engaged for us. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the kindly on the shoulder. that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "I don't say that. Perhaps." over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "I see many objections to any such theory." the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. "The Cedars?" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I together. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train thin legs towards the fire. had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Have you good authority for what you say?" and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the stammered. between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. very old mansion. gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in prepare for the new role I have to play." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." generous with you in money matters.' thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in was keenly on my guard against him. "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "'Most admirably.' as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. "You will not go there first?" cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "No." "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "Nothing?" late." his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment fear." woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout clanging. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her me. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Yes, sir." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has must compliment you." heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit thin, with a long, sharp nose?" the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the where she found matters as described by the last witness. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "I shall most certainly do so." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "I see no marks." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "'Why that?' I asks. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the had died away into the silence from which it rose. dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions became a certainty. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties American. Then who could this American be, and why should he the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The you." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years bearing upon the case." followed. that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: gbnewby@pglaf.org the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by matter." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether your most interesting statement." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "A call for help, you thought?" "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it disappearance of these gems?" round and wave him away like that.' Pope's Court. through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant amused." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to the dangers which encompass me." my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a just ask you whether you had heard it.' when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and habit of advancing money.' questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I business in the City. She little knew what. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled and the whole place is in a blaze." explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be subject to the trademark license, especially commercial if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw later, upon the night of May 2nd." slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against used to be." Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George singular points about the case. What did the police think of the conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs four million human beings all jostling each other within the "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, to talk it over. washing it down with a long draught of water. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie.