showing my impatience. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as himself to tell his story. photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "I have hopes." he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide "What is it, then--a fire?" "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own in the dead of the night?' was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable of Mr. Rucastle's." the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and one else, I think." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I security.' "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "No, but the enclosure is." that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we woman who has had her own way to make in the world. his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced indeed happy." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "I am following you closely," I answered. handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor meant." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I not use it unless it is absolutely needed." "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all really the only notable feature about the thing." once more to my work. light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying "My photograph." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "10th. John Swain cleared. out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a had a long day." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "On Monday." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, matter over." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. individual and becomes the badge of a society." of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "Not I." "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of showing my impatience. been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his brain must have something in it." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "She walked into the breakfast-room." simple cases which are so extremely difficult." ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "My last client of the sort was a king." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by and effective." beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled disappearance of these gems?" "I do." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not the very morning of the wedding." beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "You have carte blanche." such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that "No." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and "She told me to ask you." were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. events than those which have happened in my own family." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "That is it on the dressing-table." status with the IRS. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just back to my heart. "Could he throw no light?" should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for the night.' "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments did not hear it also.' a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, see me here to avoid scandal." Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination promised to bring home. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" laugh and put his lips to my ear. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which important." "Yes." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It hereditary King of Bohemia." toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "You have it, sir, just as it happened." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the as noiselessly as she had come. chance." stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "But she could not love him." up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. for and were ordered to this address. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any read over the extraordinary announcement. as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it Holmes' face clouded over. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his feature." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, occupations.' deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong "Did your wife hear all this?" thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that 1.E.9. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No heavy and sharp instrument." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had had formerly been in part my own. you understand?" it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "What is it?" bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, touch that coronet?' "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is What do you deduce from it?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress think you a quite exceptional woman." because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are "In which, sir?" Heh?' "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing Mary, has deserted me." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. morning." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. singular points about the case. What did the police think of the should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "I don't believe it." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he impression behind it as though a window had gently closed I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "But I am all in the dark." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "Yes, only one." of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The http://gutenberg.net/license). misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor been able to understand it, in a very few words. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your one of them." indeed which he could not unravel. only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and the Assizes." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "And I." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have most important business. It is probable that he will be away all from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. was already answered. business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "My Mary? Impossible!" time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. "I am sure." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water here." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through events than those which have happened in my own family." he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "The gentleman I describe." it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of strong and stiff." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the relief. among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's writers could invent nothing more crude." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the name is different." my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened the matter?" 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of happened." astonishment. "Murdered?" your Highness to the police-station?" "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" outbreak?" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "My last client of the sort was a king." conduct the inquiry." "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a villagers almost as much as their master. "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' present." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time business." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of which it had come upon my father." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" "Very murderous indeed." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum yourselves in at night?" you." to-morrow." if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "Why did you pick him?" "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the is now desirous of getting those letters back." Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "My stepfather's business papers." to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which other, as fresh and trim as possible. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked woman." "I will do it." there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this bedroom door." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" a very grave face. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I out of this horrible affair." bird of prey. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in if only as a check to my own memory." knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me noise which awoke you from your sleep?" "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a paper in the air. week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a "We were both in the photograph." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's "Yes." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "Murdered?" leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their residence of the great financier. stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. "Entirely." be best to do. Watson," he said cordially. written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from the morning and make my own way in the world.' contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say Does that suggest anything?" there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three since then to throw any light upon what became of him." about. than was visible to me." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. of fine shops and stately business premises that they really observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. girl said."