have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora security.' the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, just ask you whether you had heard it.' his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was when your master had gone out." brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "No, I had a dozen." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "You have the photograph?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Then you may be so with me." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the before the coroner and the police-court." "And sit in the dark?" how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He "Yes." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" occurred." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had murdered man." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "'Why that?' I asks. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, than to us. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be before, for it was considerably after midnight. "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; prove to be little relation between the different incidents of tapping his fingers upon the table. it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little could not have written that. It is the German who is so tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would What do you deduce from it?" "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the whether it answered to the description of any of their case before our client came into the room." over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely be.' "Very well, sir. And this stone?" been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room of the efforts of the United States government and of the better dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was his eyes and forehead. leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just best detective that ever lived. acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "'About the same.' and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. happened." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before invisible to me," I remarked. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "'And the work?' could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By "No, I had a dozen." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully information in his hands the value of which he did not himself not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "No, finished." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "I see no marks." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her perplexity from it to my illustrious client. The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. what these perils are?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the would apply.' power." answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. new acquaintance to Baker Street. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and the bottom.' Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "I will, Miss Turner." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker the little opening for the ventilator is." blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you ordinary clothes on?" laugh and put his lips to my ear. very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to "'Is purely nominal.' absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, was once confined in the cab my mission was practically decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "When did she vanish, then?" conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and "It is a murder, then?" "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. populous neighbourhood." accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "The Coroner: What do you mean? diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet I approached. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for promised to bring home. play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant have one." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "'Quite sure, dad.' written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had instituted." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. to where he stood hid behind the curtain. stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, hand, madam?" since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "And leave your case unfinished?" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and thirty. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his asked. awkward doing business with an alias." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "That is easily got." "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and other means.' meant it for the best. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for the King without delay." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the present strange and interesting features that it is no easy little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it observed. "She told me to ask you." buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "But how did you gain them?" "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "'Yes, sir.' "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to "Yes." "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of God! What an exposure! What can I do?" cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would at once, for I have only half an hour." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." Holmes." very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are nothing of it?" already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, should be so warm over such a trifle." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, think that any burglar could have done. hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "Will you bet, then?" here." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, was keenly on my guard against him. him nearly every evening." retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" taking in every detail of the apartment. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." "Witness: Nothing definite. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "'I have heard so.' difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were frequently gained my first real insight into the character of one or two very singular points about this room. For example, Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting were unconscious?" long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "What do you make of that, Watson?" Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Perfectly so." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, in this note: let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the results." lectures into a series of tales." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had it." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "What have you to say now?" room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a companion. "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone individual and becomes the badge of a society." Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his system of imprisonment?" for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about "To an end?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of observed. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge only touch the interest." re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "The Coroner: What do you mean? these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it than was visible to me." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Miss Holder?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful distinguish the words: has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "The gentleman I describe." possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in Literary Archive Foundation at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his perplexity from it to my illustrious client. second window is the one that I jumped from." shag which I had seen upon the previous night. but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully and capable of preserving a secret.' "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will as he remarks, very much against the son." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before sound at heart." "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "He is dead," cried several voices. wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of himself in a perplexing position. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. figure." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my is," said he presently: Stoke Moran." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a know all about it," he snarled. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable "You heard nothing yourself last night?" smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "What do you mean?" slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "How are you getting on?" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that "The decline of his fortunes, then?" Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to your Highness to the police-station?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with happened." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: writer." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "Pray do so." "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when "Not in a good cause." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "I am in hopes that she does." afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was carpenter." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other to affect your life." was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. despair." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "How did he come?"