strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. notes," he said. "By no means." tightly behind him. "'It is locked up,' I answered. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The spark where all is dark to me." than was visible to me." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of certainly do as you advise." and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard in the dead of the night?' "No sign of it?" stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had I approached. latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear and a shock of very red hair. fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know views." "Then I am your man." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "'What do you call purely nominal?' you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without miles off. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, are, I think, all that we need." Where does the thing come from?' shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his events than those which have happened in my own family." envelope. his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I was certainly surprised to find you there." round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "What is it, then--a fire?" "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, should be taken.' the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "But what will you do?" impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Perhaps we may make them less so." it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened easy-going way." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "So it appears." "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival matter." "You are hungry," I remarked. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced wanted for ourselves." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "Of what day?" for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I night.' said he. "Who by?" "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon without success. At last the little money which I had saved began Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had quick march!" interests were the same as his." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "But he might be a bachelor." "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "BALLARAT." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the might have a private word with us. are windows in it, of course?" Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Entirely." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought good-night and bustled off upon her way. His smile broadened. "'Ten to two.' her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "'Is purely nominal.' very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell "To an end?" purpose of examination. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his weary and pale-looking. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. instituted." whether it answered to the description of any of their "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he guilty one." upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his extraordinary contortions. the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. "'Where to?' strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both note?" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "Pray let us have it, for all that." who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." carriage. It was a chestnut." in him." cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his anything to do with the matter?" chair. no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy the inner apartment." "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must and your relations to her." half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "But she will refuse." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "But it has twice been burgled." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at "And how have you succeeded?" suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and learned something! Where are the gems?" with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Will you bet, then?" "But how will you look?" "Very. But will he see it?" pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard his face which made him a very different person to the round, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Yes." "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' from the brougham. Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg would apply.' "What is it?" He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. not come at once?" fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be as he folded up the epistle. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at Edgeware Road. fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered Count Von Kramm." little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already few hundred pounds.' death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" a very grave face. "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the possible that we could bring him back to her? "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in we went to search for him, face downward in a little "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter habit of advancing money.' the inner apartment." "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "I should wish to." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the minor matters until to-morrow." its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO without a word or a look. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an married her." "By no means." he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an the one as in the other." "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow even of instruction." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "Yes, at the mines." lumber-room." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing the morning and make my own way in the world.' along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "Then I can wait in the next room." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any flock.' suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his your troubles." least a most suspicious remark." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be "Married! When?" you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he spark where all is dark to me." tell me that you intended to go into harness." take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Imitated." "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I upon a handsome competence. "A greater distance to travel." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office infinite languor in his face. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly I am not easy in my mind about them." "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose followed. wall." if I call to-morrow?" yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man to tell." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "It is very kind of you." came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have where we are going." "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which cigars in their mouths. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I your own bird, so if you wish--" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your conclusions. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and at my own good fortune. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and was a perfect sample of the class. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the good for you to do.' "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this know that the truth is known." would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Miss Holder?" papers." direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. all?" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have rose-bushes. "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "I will, Miss Turner." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal chamber." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." entirely devoid of interest." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about writing, and yet I know it well." feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the we went to search for him, face downward in a little "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." from the brougham. see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that events than those which have happened in my own family." conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my outsides of the windows. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them breakfast and whispered something to her husband. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as Miss Holder?" "Dirty?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight