the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down if I call to-morrow?" His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and disappearance of the bride.'" orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "Do you go out much in society?" "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Certainly, madam." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his certainly not very gracious." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door furiously. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from grasp, he hurried from the room. more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "You are all wrong." excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened undoubtedly my uncle's." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our despair." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who how narrow had been my escape. the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he prove to be little relation between the different incidents of The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements rooms." "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the threw himself down with his face to the pillow. fled together." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "In the cells." "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or remarked. in his power. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "Then you may be so with me." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "What can it mean?" I gasped. It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds may have an influence upon European history." with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the the best of training." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the outside." Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "What do you mean?" you?' "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Street. "You think so, too?" breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out McCarthy's innocence. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "Deserted you?" of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to Eyford at 11:15.' of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "'About the same.' with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater anything to a woman, for she would have her way." him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. chair. lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook "I fear not." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. whether it answered to the description of any of their "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there The police have openly confessed that they can at present make upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers "Deserted you?" have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, way: and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of very old mansion. honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and Chief Executive and Director we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I brandy and water within his reach. Where does the thing come from?' man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "I see many objections to any such theory." skylight. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and became a certainty. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling yourselves in at night?" "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold I shall communicate with you." metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "Yes." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. rose-bushes. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor you found me to-night--and running through the front room she light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found roused himself from his reverie. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of kind enough to tell me what I should do." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Never to return." It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with cause to be." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just case-book, which he consulted. "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where have accepted such a situation. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" "And why in hopes?" status with the IRS. forehead. been." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Stolen." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the suspect him." were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "Not him." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are just ask you whether you had heard it.' on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry questioning and rather startled gaze. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little matter over." to affect your life." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "'What, the red-headed man?' presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "This concluded the examination of the witness." "I say it is." thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers in a very precise fashion." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "It is a murder, then?" the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "Yes, it was twisted." he died? The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier think that he is innocent?" which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "Where is it, then?" admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for the roots. quick march!" "Quite so." there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's new duties?' handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "But not more so than I to find you." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to been anything against him. He had for years been known as a tell them apart.' "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It weigh very heavily upon my conscience." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, details." fait accompli?" nonsense.' words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we his eyes and forehead. against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his the best of training." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, strength in the others." considering the formidable letters which were received by himself sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the locked. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. outside. bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must said I. from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is important." balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "Was she in good spirits?" "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. "Witness: It was. of." itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been particular state visit http://pglaf.org silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see fear." half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you your only hope of safety." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon quick march!" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood you in yours." far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "VIOLET HUNTER." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his begin with, and I had not got mine yet." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at there." security.' "She showed me, as I told you she would." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of "Pray let us have it, for all that." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that happened." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open considering the formidable letters which were received by himself over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even nice household for a young lady." "But I have heard all that you have heard." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she Have you good authority for what you say?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow one of them." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "And how?" particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "Well, but China?" grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm absolutely follow my advice in every respect." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I "And help." closely." St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Yes." "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. examine." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being yards of it?' do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the them present such singular features as the strange train of without a word or a look. seen the man in the road." first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a said he at last. happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "How did that help you?" who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. touch that coronet?' at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of there in twenty minutes." "I am following you closely," I answered. I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me that you wished to speak to me?' fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked strong and stiff." "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young which our visitor detailed to us. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "When did she vanish, then?" Project Gutenberg-tm works. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the to tackle the facts." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about had died away into the silence from which it rose. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible singular points about the case. What did the police think of the bore every mark of being an average commonplace British a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. you do it in twenty minutes!' shag which I had seen upon the previous night. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "He said too much." indeed which he could not unravel. logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking if only as a check to my own memory." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to matters immensely." perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit words came to my lips. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her