"Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the to take care of herself." then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your Stoke Moran." "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. this man was intellectual?" "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove "My opinion is in no way altered." Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Then what has happened to him?" "Yes, sir." disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban the house with me." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon late." "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "It is possible." the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the indeed which he could not unravel. of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT is now desirous of getting those letters back." it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Very much so." settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." constraint." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle coat-tails." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the just ask you whether you had heard it.' the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is other, as fresh and trim as possible. girl said." cigars in the box." a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured entirely lost his self-respect." to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he read over the extraordinary announcement. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds in darkness. And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "What then?" you." The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my for the market.' this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "Do you receive much company?" he asked. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "His face fell immediately. a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "'As governess?' knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of begun to whiten, even as mine has." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he events than those which have happened in my own family." explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something with some details as to your case." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every Cross for the Continent." woven round him. at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he fact, we may call it conclusive." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we help us in this matter." 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his peculiar to him. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor lamp. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "Not yet." "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must means taking possession of that which another person has a prior least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door sofa. This way, please!" subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No nothing of it?" qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter "No." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I "Was she in good spirits?" the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he "Were they all fastened this morning?" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." used to be." bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been late!' lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be vault. the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "The gentleman I describe." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." way: To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Certainly, madam." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he clanging. companion. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, way in." "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who eat it." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up charge against him will break down." not, dad?" she asked. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "It missed him, then?" "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "I cannot tell." "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, fire. You quite follow me?" "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a "'Is 4 pounds a week.' eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many which are rolled in Rotterdam." When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone himself. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "What office?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know of your young ladies.' shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five me what he had done with the three missing stones. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to me have 200 pounds?' I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Bought." shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the quite distinctive." a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. "Thank you. Pray proceed." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By know that the truth is known." your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "That is not always so easy." the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. to some other building. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I you give your casting vote to?" "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Whose house is it?" "Not yet." that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Where, then?" beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I that I can to serve you." "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my prepare for the new role I have to play." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. a little more before I quite committed myself. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes time." I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened your sleep?' possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I Clair, of Lee." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel this man was intellectual?" likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to strength in the others." "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City License. You must require such a user to return or that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "He disappeared so suddenly." upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a one else, I think." "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your results." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "It surprised me." jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. to talk it over. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Who was the criminal, then?" his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "Yes." "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended "There is the writing." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy character. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside gone. "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "And what did you learn from him?" to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "What!" he roared. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very whole matter to your consideration." pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. "We have tried and failed." and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "So I have heard." "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "What, then?" "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them "It was a confession," I ejaculated. across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a to have that photograph." and the church but not where the lady lived." lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear directors have had misgivings upon the subject." myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. "I do." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Because he was handy and would come cheap." can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "You horrify me." "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into hurried away. Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his "I have seen the police." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? advice." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which already been minutely examined." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of the general public were present, then?" hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." this remarkable episode. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I throat." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went Holmes' face clouded over. eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one the stable lane now." whatever might befall. "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable who was a member of your goose club." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from not as remarkable as your advertisement." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He waste of energy." "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "But the mystery?" of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my as noiselessly as she had come. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm of receipt of the work. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and him. One of them held the horse's head while the other led us in. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest papers diligently of late, have you not?" that I may have something better before very many minutes are have an American origin." bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, only touch the interest." not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can written. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the horse could go." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What way: out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right as this. Pray let me have the details." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has believe that I should never have any practice at all. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away is," said he presently: glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "It is possible." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face the King without delay." do.' "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows