"Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must the coronet in his hand?" "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, hardly wander." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this formed some opinion?" "What is it, then--a fire?" finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second wedding?" eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my crowd. little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so interests were the same as his." threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera over part of the map. "What do you read?" We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able learned something! Where are the gems?" "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." I took the paper from him and read as follows: no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed upon a handsome competence. had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the leaning back in his chair. web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." redistribution. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "Why serious?" insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "Did your wife hear all this?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "It is to him that this trophy belongs." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case prove to be little relation between the different incidents of expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable held up the lantern and gazed about him. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much ill-usage at the hands of fortune. Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about that I am arrested." passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "Because he was handy and would come cheap." appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "And Irene Adler?" "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "But you were on a friendly footing?" "If I can be of use." his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious asked with his eyes open. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, the address that was given us in the advertisement. "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled you." is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "It is possible." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Yes." "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his God! What an exposure! What can I do?" "I am following you closely," I answered. is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you good-night and bustled off upon her way. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, really the only notable feature about the thing." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have chill to my heart. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. and I shall be with you presently." seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that conceal it?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been appeal." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "No?" that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have overpowering excitement and concern. Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg soul! here is her carriage at the door." Stoke Moran." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "I came to find a friend." "Ha! you find it so?" my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The ashen face. at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a where she found matters as described by the last witness. "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' "A call for help, you thought?" interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "It was." Gutenberg-tm License. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "But not more so than I to find you." signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in and that he would see to anything that turned up. garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "You have the photograph?" carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes "Very much so." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Dr. Gregory B. Newby "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "He slept on the premises." hand, madam?" air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation The King stared at him in amazement. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought had formerly been in part my own. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Seven!" I answered. instincts rose up against that laugh. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell other, as fresh and trim as possible. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Yes." better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then details should find their way into the papers. Inspector definite end. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in "No good news?" before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the matter over." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "And Miss Sutherland?" destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I bell. Holmes whistled. ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman seen the man in the road." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm of receipt of the work. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full everything which you would wish to know." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to chambers. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project directly by questioning you." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the but preventing her from injuring another. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" such person." continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in yards of it?' doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: breakfast and whispered something to her husband. A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't his fortune, and I went back to pa. John Swain, of St. Augustine. green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "There are none." has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I Watson," he said cordially. you." fled together." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "I beg pardon." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't his face which made him a very different person to the round, have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single and it need not interfere very much with one's other whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and derbies." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a must compliment you." your co-operation." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite me what he had done with the three missing stones. usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small this poor creature." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Yes, the wine-cellar." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so vault. then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "'Tell me all about it,' said I. what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes his face. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman here." "You are all wrong." sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' were unconscious?" shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is upon the shelf for the interim." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too will take you up to see the machine.' thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing have been better. It is all right." "And what then?" hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner three of the beryls in it, was missing. was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "Murdered?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The papers." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time just ask you whether you had heard it.' Heh?' I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the of the vacancies.' to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary "I shall be delighted." seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "I will try. What is it?" Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, name is different." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' conclusions. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. carriage. It was a chestnut." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a memory. his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at should be so warm over such a trifle." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of in. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he knowledge of the world." "'You cannot say what it was?' it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "Here?" "My private note-paper." Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local invisible to me," I remarked. another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year "Can I be of assistance?" no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net tassel actually lying upon the pillow. which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a the coronet in his hand?" "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would questioning and rather startled gaze. although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., o'clock is it?" said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever whether it answered to the description of any of their the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square