"'Ten to two.' carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without touch that coronet?' "I have come for advice." scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "What then?" The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much already referred to. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it place, I think that there is good ground to think that the colonel looking down at me. "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "That is unusual in a young girl." was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "I cannot say that I have." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I lids now and glanced across at his visitor. behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he all?" heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell "Stoke Moran?" said he. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; individual and becomes the badge of a society." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer point in the dark hollow of his hand. greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he His name is Francis Prosper." For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy of this gang." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in indiscretion." "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "Then I am your man." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so "I should wish to." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of national property. I was determined that the law should have its fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post hardly wander." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was Serpentine Avenue. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Gutenberg-tm License. he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have about. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly to miss it." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "That is not always so easy." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "He is still with you, I presume?" the coronet in his hand?" the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "On the contrary, this is the right side." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "He said too much." not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." desk. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "Ten will be early enough." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' details." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to there!' wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his foresight and the moral retrogression?" and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So him." line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. once more for Briony Lodge. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to gone before you can get him to hospital." hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing situation." panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go telegram would bring me down to your help." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence visitors." I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Certainly." Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." strength of mind to control. away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. client, rising. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Certainly." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, outside. bears upon the case?" total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "'I have already given you my word.' "This photograph!" all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "I should wish to." increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the man. "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly you." which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Indeed! Whose, then?" "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "I cannot say that I have." events, Mr. Windibank!" The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first of the efforts of the United States government and of the better caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "Come in!" said he. weigh very heavily upon my conscience." During two years I have had three consultations and one small If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "What then?" when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "My own seal." "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Pope's Court, Fleet Street." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in the so-precious time, but come!' jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the records." places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "What are they?" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be it? Did I buy the geese off you?" and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted more terrible than the truth. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "'In my own bureau.' not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. gentle as a woman could be. She is my right hand. I do not know like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "I came to find a friend." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the call the police, let the police find what they can.' offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Yes, all." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." business in the City. She little knew what. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp with some details as to your case." "And when will you call?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, him. "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and questionable one." "Eh? What was that?" "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "'Certainly,' I answered. past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to now. It seems that there had been some informality about their pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the upon the white wrist. Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my papers on the sundial.'" http://www.gutenberg.net rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it excitement. that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a shall not find me ungrateful." every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so meanly of me." do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Ample." vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Very murderous indeed." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight have an American origin." From what you have told me I think that it is possible that across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. the coroner come to?" "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend mystery." and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. For additional contact information: "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the amused." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in dead, shall be safe with us." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor than to us. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "Have you it here?" will be renamed. friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be "You saw the ventilator, too?" I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "But the mystery?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "BALLARAT." think that any burglar could have done. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a spare." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. written. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as "And why in hopes?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the know what is wrong with it.' first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that carried out of court." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it help us in this matter." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "What will you say?" known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a as this. Pray let me have the details." tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "It came here." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the carried out of court." swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our "No, finished." to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his meant." another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me in one or two places in England?' "'What, the red-headed man?' "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you vanished into the darkness. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "I cannot think." stalked out of the room. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not exactly what you advise." I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not "A confidential servant?" all that?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of allusion to a rat. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "No, I think that I'll take it." Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project coat-tails." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "But who is he?" out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon you." and no precautions can guard against." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as asked. "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. something had happened. Do you think that I would respond to such When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and it with his own hands." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door my former friend and companion. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I electronic works wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and companion. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "So I am. Very much so." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much said he. myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a small business matters to attend to. Will you not wait and "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "I promise," said Holmes. a good hundred miles off by now." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "How can you tell that?" this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, have been better. It is all right." prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on once more for Briony Lodge. secret." plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer