said he, "my real name is James Ryder." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. "I cannot tell." door?" I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly right! Sit down and let us talk it over." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "How did you deduce the select?" Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing Does that suggest anything?" Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Where, then, is my wife?" clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, IS off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "No. His orders were to stay in the house." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' forehead. Holmes' thin, eager face. accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the heavily into it. top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and and shall probably return to London by the evening train." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." might help us?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a any little problem which you may submit to me." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of danger is over." not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? leaning back in his chair. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his in the hope of finding them." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Very murderous indeed." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried and shall probably return to London by the evening train." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the II. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were helping a boy to put up the shutters. habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for who was a member of your goose club." drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his "I do." suddenly upon us." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he 1.F. as he remarks, very much against the son." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper "Yes, sir." Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. good-night and bustled off upon her way. "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the Literary Archive Foundation old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress "Ha! you find it so?" focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet occupations.' are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated the stones. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight in the dead of the night?' "He is dead," cried several voices. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some me. You must get home instantly and act." Arthur Conan Doyle "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my should be so warm over such a trifle." the matter." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "None." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some chamber." his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous province." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. lectures into a series of tales." deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Witness: It was. unprecedented a position." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may the morning and make my own way in the world.' dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, I have it here in my museum." gone. "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his weapon." over with notes and figures. "In heaven's name, what for?" me have 200 pounds?' world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my Surrey." 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning back to my heart. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as in the dead of the night?' distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "What are they?" fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you should be taken.' I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." showing my impatience. homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Yes." death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may papers must be those that are destroyed.' to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little companion. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You hour?' back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Of what day?" "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Yes, sir." Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It front of me. "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Certainly." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural believe that I should never have any practice at all. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "She will not sell." great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "The Coroner: What do you mean? listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." shoulder; "he's all right." unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "And how have you succeeded?" deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my had a long day." the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. again." cigars in their mouths. beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity burst out into a roar of laughter. Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as Countess of Morcar's?" The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though to a more successful conclusion." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he and effective." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof in his power. this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Which are?" It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to Pope's Court. "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert question you as to those details which seem to me to be most advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my suggested at once that there must be a communication between the into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal think you a quite exceptional woman." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us delighted to hear it," he said. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation o'clock is it?" "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "No." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped voice. machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of like that before?" We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to comes from the middle window." "'A dozen yards or so.' and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "That is it on the dressing-table." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies appeal." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "I will do it." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, the armchair which I pushed forward for him. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "My dear Holmes!" of." had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the John Swain, of St. Augustine. I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "'And the work?' over with notes and figures. enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Of what day?" "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "I fear not." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "But she could not love him." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in matter." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." stammered. point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is carpenter." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, impression behind it as though a window had gently closed room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "Seven!" I answered. just called myself is not exactly my own." my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could done what I asked you, Jones?" "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "Murdered?" furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned companion quietly. the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands said I. equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "But how?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without was lame." and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the "Nothing?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in disturbance in my wife." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I you for a few hours?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "I warn you that they are very incomplete." right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I returned to France?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and a good hundred miles off by now." after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "I should wish to." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "But your client--" "And is that all?" The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' and effective." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "Yes, sir." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you absorbing." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "Nothing?" and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "'Yes, I promise.' to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "But the mystery?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can in darkness. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in "I am in hopes that she does." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" to have been novel and of interest." one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a knowledge of the world." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. which our visitor detailed to us. rose-bushes. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite client, rising. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left http://gutenberg.net/license). reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "'Certainly,' I answered. judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Why? What do you mean?" entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing