not come at once?" "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not down. "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "And now?" I asked. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him upon an income of about 60 pounds." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely it. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east meant it for the best. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "An accident, I presume?" princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring himself in a perplexing position. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my rose-bushes. conceal it?" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I Street. "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door Pope's Court. yet." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "And how in the world did you find them?" walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of your Highness to the police-station?" "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard learned something! Where are the gems?" "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' of the vacancies.' to take care of herself." "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most asked. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few allusion to a rat. and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Do you know him?" aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. and wait." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "In which, sir?" might have a private word with us. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client experiences." That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name door?" he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his meant." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and "You are all wrong." "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached in my life." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man wedding?" data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "You have the photograph?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg anything to a woman, for she would have her way." and that he would see to anything that turned up. "I have solved it." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "By all means." dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached it with his own hands." purpose equally well?" sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this held up the lantern and gazed about him. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "What, then, did Peterson do?" your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to The note was undated, and without either signature or address. once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should astonishment. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon important." "I am still in the dark." "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point tell them apart.' bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the garden below. became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "She told me to ask you." "It must be recovered." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the late." he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. instincts rose up against that laugh. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." do.' words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet people in all walks of life. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." business matters.' bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am be best to do. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed and shall probably return to London by the evening train." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the matter." "I cannot tell." could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a 'please.'" child?' unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness than to us. door?" "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the asked. telegram would bring me down to your help." "But you have hopes?" 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the rooms." professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and are, and they are waiting for us." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. felt the room to be a little close.' nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "And Irene Adler?" "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an unkempt, staring out at me. "And I say east," said my patient. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Not I." "None." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. will take you up to see the machine.' of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle "No, finished." "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, direction." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair Pope's Court, Fleet Street." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present "I will do it." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will to tackle the facts." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and observed. generous with you in money matters.' "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "But how did you gain them?" consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his goes." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back Leave Paddington by the 11:15." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our voice, changing her seat as requested. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge and your relations to her." should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. do." problems help me to do so." Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. "'Very good.' leave you to your papers for a little." have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "She walked into the breakfast-room." "But you were on a friendly footing?" "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly strength of mind to control. severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for towards the blaze. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "He is still with you, I presume?" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We "Were they all fastened this morning?" half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for client, rising. note?" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. heavy and sharp instrument." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "And you can do nothing until then?" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "On Monday." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled "Perfectly so." revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," to-night?' "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody fled together." "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the national property. I was determined that the law should have its stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "I will try. What is it?" acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the own family. "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "ARAT," I read. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project colour had been driven from his face. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' is four-and-twenty." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have straighten it?" the best of training." upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and to go into your room and bar your shutters?" seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "So I have heard." "'And the work?' was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up this poor creature." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. photograph?" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. morning." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very humiliation." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "'A dozen yards or so.' collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "It was a confession," I ejaculated. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging "But you can know nothing of this?" smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "That is it on the dressing-table." disturbance in my wife." new duties?' the south-west, I see." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding "To an end?" down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again What do you deduce from it?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "What do you make of that, Watson?" "Entirely." and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "No?" pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure placed his cuttings. you came in." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and closely." the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." fattened it expressly for you.' room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would foot. neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of "She will not sell." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the voice, changing her seat as requested. breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "It is very clear." the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "'Never,' said I. Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign said he. I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at on in his house." the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, even so self-evident a thing as that." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "How do you know, then?" or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss the King without delay." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself mysterious end." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that Sholtos." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "On your arm?" "I will get her to show me." you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be records." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have your troubles." begun to whiten, even as mine has." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, was lame." faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some "Whose house is it?" corner of the building. visitors." they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this papers diligently of late, have you not?" see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all chemical work which was so dear to him. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was upon an income of about 60 pounds." the stones. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the charged with?" have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own