a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else it. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "So I have heard." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' "My private note-paper." hardly wander." making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "That also I could fathom." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are long narrative. "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch "There are none." a suggestive one." astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him "I will, Miss Turner." secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how before the coroner and the police-court." "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you awaited us upon the table. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the any little problem which you may submit to me." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "And Irene Adler?" seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps there is a decided draught." "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's most interesting one." interested in these little problems, and since you are good be.' Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "The decline of his fortunes, then?" our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler with her." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' "Stolen." "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But go--none." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." business?" The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of "Very much so." brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master that he will be back before evening." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." strode off upon his way. approach us with offers to donate. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the that he has suffered." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which "No?" you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. are, I think, all that we need." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up Street. when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Sutherland. that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "What is it?" greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck the side-table." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn o'clock is it?" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some it. "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little excitement. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling room had already been engaged for us. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow hair?' is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless events, Mr. Windibank!" my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look back into the street. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, giving me time to thank him. "It's nothing of the kind." was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." appeal." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "Just look it up, then." "And the cigar-holder?" enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should upon the sideboard." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, already referred to. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "No, I am descending." read over the extraordinary announcement. other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I promised to bring home. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that straighten it?" floor. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Witness: I must still refuse. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute purpose equally well?" "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "Your presence might be invaluable." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred together. "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Was there a secret marriage?" is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a with frightened eyes at his accuser. "It was an hour's good drive." of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Not him." very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At he bowed and left the room without another word. villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! developed." Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Was your sister dressed?" more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has this unhappy family?" against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "So it appears." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with leaning back in his chair. at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or young Openshaw's." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very wedding?" remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss it." "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his "I never have." also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the better grown goose." tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman with frightened eyes at his accuser. "It looks newer than the other things?" you understand?" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged that before taking the final step I should like to submit the less than 26s. 4d. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of weighed down with some great anxiety. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Well?" recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into look upon these things in a different way." "Oh, yes, easily." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Whose house is it?" "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and matter over." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Why, what do you mean?" office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after Young McCarthy must be got off, however." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "Not in a good cause." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are room had already been engaged for us. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Why did you pick him?" daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative only touch the interest." ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I village inn over there?" his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "I am all attention, madam." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector "No, my brougham is waiting." "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and silent! Oh, he will be silent!' happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Yes." "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from "Yes, he did." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office hurried by. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Stoke Moran?" said he. "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, lost his Christmas dinner." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever vanished into the darkness. "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled row." deduce something from that?" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly where Mr. Fordham shows you.' even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage back into the street. look dissatisfied." protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg neither fascinating nor artistic." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is I leave." "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was morning." rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand situation." "How did that help you?" now. It seems that there had been some informality about their you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing even so self-evident a thing as that." "I say that I have solved it." "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas me upon any point which I do not make clear." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This observed. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a stepfather?" of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from Stoke Moran." "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous that he will be back before evening." take the flies, but not before." her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "'Most admirably.' take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "'Then let me do so?' to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend province." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the "I know where it is." "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "And Irene Adler?" "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." vault. returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done second." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the rat could hardly pass through." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "Nearly eleven." I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. conduct the inquiry." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon was a lad." "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, province." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Nearly eleven." "Where, then?" the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." way: to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must again before evening." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the views." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the nice household for a young lady." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "It looks newer than the other things?" patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no Leadenhall Street--and--" "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do "It is very kind of you." the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "May I see it?" XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." narrative."