Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "But to whom?" Eyford at 11:15.' "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who she used." it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "I was mad--insane." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an seven miles from Eyford Station.' same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "I cannot tell." A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I http://www.gutenberg.net Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "No, thank goodness, she did not." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but and the church but not where the lady lived." "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been I am not easy in my mind about them." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of indeed which he could not unravel. 1.E.9. in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the seen the man in the road." upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "My dear Holmes!" pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads what these perils are?" seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: fled together." "He disappeared so suddenly." friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge been with you?" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long should be taken.' "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Pray continue your narrative." edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance better in every way that they should make their position a little "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee conceal it?" "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly me. sound at heart." "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such heavy and sharp instrument." spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Pray tell us what has happened to you." "How many? I don't know." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for may have an influence upon European history." "'You cannot say what it was?' an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it remarked. interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots The very noblest in the land may suffer unless some way be found "I cannot as yet see any connection." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which "You were travelling in the States?" "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. have been better. It is all right." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" "Yes, only one." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a persecution?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, hard-headed British jury." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by that you saw all that I did." keep the flames under. could gather together that I was able to avert another public "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect good for you to do.' Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what affection." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "Your sister is dead, then?" might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing maid will bring up your coffee." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little imbecility!" he cried. have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as straightened it out again. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her note?" "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the of note-paper. It read in this fashion: for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the exactly what you advise." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "No, I had a dozen." Chief Executive and Director journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, "We have tried and failed." his knees, staring into the fire. wedding?" "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, voice, changing her seat as requested. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some helping a boy to put up the shutters. and the whole place is in a blaze." word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of "Nothing." standing smiling on the door-step. at a side door. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "'Is purely nominal.' few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." sake, don't!" "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to speckled band?" round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he of a light. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" morning." clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows is four-and-twenty." Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "I see no marks." fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "Will you go?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. trifles." records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler events than those which have happened in my own family." of them has the shutters up.' the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Then I can wait in the next room." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I This is what he says: upon the sideboard." The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of with you?" face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes went to the Alpha were town bred." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the "Then the page we have seen--" "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, eavesdroppers?' "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been Sholtos." afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "You are all wrong." "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove lids now and glanced across at his visitor. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. the coronet at all injured?" round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it works. See paragraph 1.E below. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was companion quietly. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic a monotonous occupation." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. of Fenchurch Street." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the again before evening." "Yes." when your master had gone out." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "That is not always so easy." forebodings. "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient soul! here is her carriage at the door." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain the date of his supposed suicide." pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable place, I think that there is good ground to think that the and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my himself in a perplexing position. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser 'I should be able to look after that for you.' room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was "It looks newer than the other things?" pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "And how in the world did you find them?" which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper the inquest, and which are worth considering." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the that you can jump it.' entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me were wasted." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Yes, it was twisted." returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were had no one to advise her at such a crisis." never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the "Pray tell us what has happened to you." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "'And what salary do you ask?' Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had "And when will you call?" the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Farm upon the left." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Will you go?" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "What do you make of that, Watson?" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but he bowed and left the room without another word. comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, was already answered. "Then I am your man." prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "At the wedding breakfast." the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all never will be, entirely cleared up. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that 'please.'" public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm the general public were present, then?" overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I lost nothing by them." can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and It may be so in this case, also." electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was "I do." round and wave him away like that.' latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the not personally threatened." leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side ways including including checks, online payments and credit card the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here hand, madam?" the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? wall." order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly this as likely?" It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had in this note: warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go along the entire front of the house, with three long windows "Yes." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay I. suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction the side-table." "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "And how did you verify them?" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much politicians who had been sent down from the North. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning me where it went to?" subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the questioning and rather startled gaze. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under kind enough to tell me what I should do." Mary, has deserted me." Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to "What I expected to see." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. answered with a sidelong glance. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here must be when I saw the door open.' this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great case-book, which he consulted. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from than to us. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "You saw the ventilator, too?" and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "And why?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such