and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late introspective fashion. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always himself in a perplexing position. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more voice, changing her seat as requested. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was clanging. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Very murderous indeed." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is that the gas is not laid on in his house?" sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more weighed down with some great anxiety. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the digesting their breakfasts at home." "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. exactly what you advise." Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "Why, what do you mean?" remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, "Stolen, then." Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her I held the little printed slip to the light. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have my special province." Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "But you were on a friendly footing?" used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but at my own good fortune. "Look there!" said he. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "By no means." o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'Where could I find him?' looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' astonishment. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him his eyes and forehead. visitors." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still who was a member of your goose club." cigars in the box." better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." what I may call a really hard day's work." It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of again on its way. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary all?" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the instituted." he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "I am in hopes that she does." all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house bird I ate is country bred." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the test if we have an answer to our advertisement." on in his house." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from bird of prey. he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have not within a twentieth part of the market price." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in whole matter to your consideration." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew pound a week." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to papers on the sundial.'" "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. putting in the horse. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John horse could go." "No." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. overpowering excitement and concern. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. is a common subject for conversation. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, what is your own theory as to what took place?" waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone was it brought him the coronet? "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to salesman. the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his "Was your sister dressed?" "What is it?" married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying my former friend and companion. to-night." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back colour had been driven from his face. over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two little adventures." I shall continue with my miserable story. heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm too. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his dead, shall be safe with us." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a investigation." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. Leave Paddington by the 11:15." once more for Briony Lodge. "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court "From his hat?" stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how paper in the air. once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up he. foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Who by?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the British peeress.'" Gutenberg-tm License. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one breakfast and whispered something to her husband. know what is wrong with it.' "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "Certainly, madam." "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than one which it was hard to resist. "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry instituted." high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east "Not in a good cause." business at Coburg Square is serious." secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "You'll never persuade me to believe that." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "Thank you. Pray proceed." "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the had died away into the silence from which it rose. fact, we may call it conclusive." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Frequently." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "At what time?" "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. may never be exposed to such a temptation." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "And it is--" "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "'Very good.' pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. me have 200 pounds?' The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "Did you become engaged then?" Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Ah, but I was recommended to you." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had it with his own hands." "And you thought he was pulled back?" than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. your equipment. that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, to you." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Yesterday." it." confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Yes, sir." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over weapon." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "Pray do so." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was which was all perfectly true. dear old homesteads?" side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or never will be, entirely cleared up. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at get her out of the way." low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, into the room. glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most against a man in the prime of life?" eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the interested in these little problems, and since you are good sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself ill-usage at the hands of fortune. something of him before." "There are none." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so congenial hunt. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where observed. "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or I leave." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project where Mr. Fordham shows you.' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through beg that you will break it off." emerged. are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He least a fellow-countryman. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "And the murderer?" awkward doing business with an alias." to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. that, and I came down." "'Then let me do so?' flock.' the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which grasp, he hurried from the room. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been details should find their way into the papers. Inspector be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. success. sake, don't!" giving me time to thank him. you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "I never have." particular state visit http://pglaf.org he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and meant it for the best. harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little "Nothing." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot get her out of the way." bird I ate is country bred." shadow pass over his face as I spoke. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Look there!" said he. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" the best of training." statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing photograph a cabinet?" of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "I have seen the police." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded me what he had done with the three missing stones. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "The King of Scandinavia." jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case drawing your inferences." "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to garden below. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without 11:15.' face and glided from the room. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "It was an hour's good drive." very morning of my second wedding." "That is not always so easy." "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely fashion which was peculiar to him. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so Clair, of Lee." disappearance of the bride.'" staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea upon the white wrist. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! maiden herself was most instructive." leaning back in his chair. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to is," said he presently: person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "No, I think that I'll take it." Serpentine Avenue. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." geese which you supplied to the Alpha." and capable of preserving a secret.' "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A