"Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "No, I am descending." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said husband's writing, madam." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from vault. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it your bag." "Ah!" her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in indeed which he could not unravel. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." of a light. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and what these perils are?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this affection." "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "And how?" bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated individual and becomes the badge of a society." the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they really the only notable feature about the thing." was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I know that the truth is known." and the colonel ushered me in. avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to tell me that you intended to go into harness." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the think that he is innocent?" "'What do you call purely nominal?' in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him introspective fashion. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. think that he is innocent?" "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. the station." "What is it?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a she slowly sank and died without having recovered her jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you *** START: FULL LICENSE *** keep the flames under. transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was IS "You will not go there first?" dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I "Whose house is it?" Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there noise which awoke you from your sleep?" upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Texas, I think." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Stolen, then." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into seem to you to be relevant or not." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a prove useful, so I just ordered him to put up the shutters for himself in a perplexing position. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." seem to you to be relevant or not." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "When did it break out?" "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some had picked up in the wood. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, excitement. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for was already answered. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "My Mary? Impossible!" "I will not look." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange really the only notable feature about the thing." There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped delirious. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your deduce something from that?" but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must furiously. reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I and the whole place is in a blaze." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and as yours." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt come either from the window or the door. My attention was happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "The rest you will leave in our hands." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "None." can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of because she had spent so short a time in this country that she maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly until night should bring an explanation. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim stood on the top of it. centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "None. Neville wrote those words." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "It is a murder, then?" agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are security.' "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time Leave Paddington by the 11:15." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "Yes, from Horsham." of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. yet." is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I "Never." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "Not I." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind cheerful." Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "I came to find a friend." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to comes from the middle window." be.' in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small may have an influence upon European history." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, remarked. "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away heavily into it. "'What do you call purely nominal?' "So it appears." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the "I fear not." so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he intimate personal affairs in this public manner." stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low was lame." blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped instincts rose up against that laugh. entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "None." thirty. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days cigars in their mouths. Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic case-book, which he consulted. Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he outside. client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "A call for help, you thought?" you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign her also." think that any burglar could have done. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get security.' "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a returned to France?" "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of Leadenhall Street--and--" matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of to-night." Surrey." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "Yes." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at again." do.' "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It breakfast." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been "Yes." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and questioning and rather startled gaze. direction." been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do might have a private word with us. my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special new duties?' attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had what is your own theory as to what took place?" "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the persecution?" newspaper selections." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical not personally threatened." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "One of his hands." all that?" eavesdroppers?' envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the anything to a woman, for she would have her way." of your young ladies.' caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a arrested. You then--" am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" other means.' that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "But not more so than I to find you." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very geese which you supplied to the Alpha." you do it in twenty minutes!' "It is a murder, then?" self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. neither fascinating nor artistic." St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird have accepted such a situation. memory. "And Irene Adler?" "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The as he folded up the epistle. narrative." "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from I took the paper from him and read as follows: like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the best detective that ever lived. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. "It is very clear." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with Munro.' "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. examine." "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "They are typewritten," I remarked. a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be "Will you bet, then?" his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, events, Mr. Windibank!" fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, least a most suspicious remark." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was the bottom.' about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "But he might be a bachelor." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "'And what are they worth?' I asked. made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, "'Certainly not. But why?' we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault then?" the window, rose as we entered. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'You doubt its value?' he asked. an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in examination of the premises, but without finding anything which up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter once more on the important position which you have been fortunate met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of in a very precise fashion." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." house for five minutes.' and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. Edgeware Road. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small new duties?' person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the she has been waylaid. There has been no result." case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from weary and pale-looking. object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "What do you mean?" you want, then?' soul! here is her carriage at the door." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would "You horrify me!" the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, the general public were present, then?" others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "'Which dealer's?' passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but himself in a perplexing position. to-morrow." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the to where he stood hid behind the curtain. finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men,