About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab character. the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one the dangers which encompass me." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "By train from Waterloo." He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," said I. feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think my little problems." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, both be extremely obliged.' The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." the room while you explain this matter?" in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress you found me to-night--and running through the front room she entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case I have it here in my museum." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I he. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "Do you go out much in society?" machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "We were both in the photograph." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more outsides of the windows. "Married! When?" voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "I cannot say that I have." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "But how did you gain them?" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a completely overtopped every other consideration that we both Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without suddenly upon us." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to bill, which interests me deeply." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as copied or distributed: comes from the middle window." "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to who was a member of your goose club." Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid this poor creature." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "'What would be the hours?' I asked. ready to-morrow?' opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right a man that it was easy to tell a thing like that to. He laughed among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have is four-and-twenty." "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the enter into my head. twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own maiden herself was most instructive." "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Pray do so." very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "But what is it you wish?" states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had to take care of herself." England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "ARAT," I read. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Yes." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at "Yes, only one." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. ways of our fellow-men." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in during the last few years, and there are many noble families to other means.' gigantic client. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Was your sister dressed?" latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock directly by questioning you." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were reach." for the market.' over part of the map. "What do you read?" son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that who was a member of your goose club." side. "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Never." redistribution. grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "What! Had he lost his wife?" side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "I will not look." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which Pool. sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any politicians who had been sent down from the North. view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use your most interesting statement." present." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous "How many? I don't know." drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. correct than the official force." with some details as to your case." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my Holmes' face clouded over. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall house for five minutes.' We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "You think that he is dead?" the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was was feeling which was the fattest.' "Nothing." above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while "He is dead," cried several voices. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "Not social, then?" here and I will read it to you: friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter not as remarkable as your advertisement." "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling companion. it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." "'Then let me do so?' though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a this man was intellectual?" your co-operation." having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very me have 200 pounds?' have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting name is different." My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. States. Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Yes." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Now, then, what's the last entry?" has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, Mrs. Toller serenely. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A useful material for showing traces. The double line a little "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. approach us with offers to donate. o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "Was the window open?" breakfast and whispered something to her husband. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the true." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "9th. McCauley cleared. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was down. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she late!' through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is him, that man would not have given me such complete information second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the waste of energy." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." think, you have already met." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance clang of the bell. reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "Just look it up, then." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us answered with a sidelong glance. "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you "What I expected to see." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get absorbing." which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He of the way of danger. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon in one or two places in England?' "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Sutherland. to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a stalked out of the room. "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but round with crates and massive boxes. man. I know him from the photograph." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "How did you deduce the select?" I shall continue with my miserable story. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, have an American origin." had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by he. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been instituted." "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the yet." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. "Seven!" I answered. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "No legal papers or certificates?" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made long narrative. "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Why, it's a dummy," said he. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several closely." held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and advice." For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which help us in this matter." "He said that you could solve anything." "We were both in the photograph." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and crackling voice. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my behind me. back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual breakfast and whispered something to her husband. photograph?" hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy chance." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her one of the states of the Union." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' ventilator." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a papers on the sundial.'" walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in then?" fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the think that any burglar could have done. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas the bottom.' silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "10th. John Swain cleared. quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them empty. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the learned something! Where are the gems?" collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "And why in hopes?" "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of was not a bird to be seen there. nothing of it?" total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand annoyance, but no jest. "It was a confession," I ejaculated. at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad morning." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily kindly on the shoulder. walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack used to be." an introduction to him?" the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at security.' "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' States. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving that, and I came down." through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable returning from some small jollification and was making his way people don't know." you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens the coronet in his hand?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the something of him before." have one." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to "I have hopes." upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty in darkness. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his beyond words. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and my little problems." "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help approach us with offers to donate. round with crates and massive boxes. "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. generous with you in money matters.' It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my have had none more fantastic than this." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to the stable lane now." thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You