with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "I beg pardon." the loss of it. journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very for securing the situation." call it cruel." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." "No." "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is fattened it expressly for you.' It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "I am following you closely," I answered. would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue The summons was a brief and urgent one. outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with "I am all attention, madam." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for a good hundred miles off by now." weigh very heavily upon my conscience." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "And your mother is alive?" so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography make me his representative both with the servants and with the "Tired-looking or fresh?" "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the where Mr. Fordham shows you.' the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. that, and I came down." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and never came back." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His seen the man in the road." before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "'There is a drive, then?' Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden events than those which have happened in my own family." but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate and prosperity to your house. Good-night." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "So it appears." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, with some details as to your case." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got chill to my heart. Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. "And that is--" Stoke Moran." threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, instincts rose up against that laugh. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building colonel looking down at me. reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, My friend smiled. some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. Foundation I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "A call for help, you thought?" merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to generous with you in money matters.' glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "Yes." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be infinite languor in his face. "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest are, and they are waiting for us." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "But she could not love him." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the I have it here in my museum." "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. *** START: FULL LICENSE *** caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "You are all wrong." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are front of the hall door has given its name to the place. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence have accepted such a situation. wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is the night.' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are colour had been driven from his face. have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite again." "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "The doctor?" "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my I shall communicate with you." collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this that he has suffered." next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes "You are certainly joking, Holmes." house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. drove away. came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two weighed down with some great anxiety. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean trying to your nerves." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a the very morning of the wedding." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want other, as fresh and trim as possible. anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "I should wish to." room?" second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "But his left-handedness." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You residence of the great financier. "To an English lawyer named Norton." time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter Doctor, of the paper and the date." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "Where, then, is my wife?" description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the had a long day." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "I am to be neutral?" for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the said he. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. been with you?" me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could skylight. "Witness: It was. and laid it on the table. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid three of the beryls in it, was missing. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "Why? What do you mean?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "No." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the on in his house." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, I took the paper from him and read as follows: us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your God! What an exposure! What can I do?" conduct the inquiry." with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without views." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Foundation have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets everything which you would wish to know." do." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "You were travelling in the States?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his one else, I think." she to prove their authenticity?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "But she will refuse." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "'Never.' "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a "And you can do nothing until then?" give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect fishes. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Where did he live, then?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical question. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "How on earth--" "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Not yet." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "I have solved it." points to suicide?" inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "'Which dealer's?' "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I closely." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no fear." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "Always." he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or the devil!" know what is wrong with it.' "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and husband's writing, madam." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a detective. lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such sake, don't!" gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, lips." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "Was she in good spirits?" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different least a most suspicious remark." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "What will you do, then?" observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the amused." At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to you, my dear young lady?' Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have "Not in the least." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic people in all walks of life. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure the salesman. the warnings." "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of "I should be immensely obliged to you." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that are windows in it, of course?" in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, open." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "What will you say?" "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "That also I could fathom." weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to "Not him." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "'And the work?' without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance highroad, where all traces were lost. on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from conceal it?" crackling voice. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her grasp, he hurried from the room. old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting distance from the station, and there we found the young lady ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the should be so warm over such a trifle." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I bird I ate is country bred." formed some opinion?" did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of me. You must get home instantly and act." case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man wedding?" knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. over with notes and figures. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which to a light-house. had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good words came to my lips. "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is During two years I have had three consultations and one small He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we License. You must require such a user to return or galvanised. eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time other means.' "It came here." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "How long did she speak to this Alice?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural