lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "Absolutely?" Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of there!' "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want "'Then let me do so?' sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which flock.' "Oh, the cause is excellent!" was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which Holmes. blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but "And you can do nothing until then?" on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all strength." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste will not take me long to tell. "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much strange features which were associated with the two crimes which knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "I am about to be married." Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. down. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, coroner's jury." his wife has ceased to love him." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "Why serious?" of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." held up the lantern and gazed about him. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and which our visitor detailed to us. "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he already referred to. why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to married her." With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We instituted." observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able so far?" "VIOLET HUNTER." situation." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight I shall communicate with you." hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger shaken than I had ever seen him. such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, national property. I was determined that the law should have its house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent II. "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "Entirely." had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I upon the sideboard." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as taking in every detail of the apartment. hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of prison!" "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, own family. "Our quest is practically finished. I shall call with the King you do it in twenty minutes!' "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It case before our client came into the room." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and disappearance of the bride.'" "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to as this. Pray let me have the details." Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "How long did she speak to this Alice?" common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "That was it, sir." "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The you found me to-night--and running through the front room she him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly 'I should be able to look after that for you.' The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar Lestrade of Scotland Yard." painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. whole matter to your consideration." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "And you thought he was pulled back?" are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the cost them two and thirty pounds." "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" "No good news?" my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "You have it, sir, just as it happened." glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there "'Tell me all about it,' said I. did not hear it also.' "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. is worth.' law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is colonel looking down at me. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the thin legs towards the fire. near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." James Windibank. Voilà tout!" have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "At the wedding breakfast." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a what I may call a really hard day's work." them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in then?" "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the recover the gem." cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving shoulder; "he's all right." Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, a little more before I quite committed myself. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the might have a private word with us. his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "'Yes, I promise.' my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was frequently gained my first real insight into the character of impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our deduce something from that?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of to have that photograph." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one to his chemical studies. the night.' without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Yes, it would be as well." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "Then I do not see the point." good-night and bustled off upon her way. of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" eat it." orange pips. 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "But his lameness?" man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "And how have you succeeded?" folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more soul! here is her carriage at the door." called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "I cannot think." gentleman's clothes. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among question you as to those details which seem to me to be most and no precautions can guard against." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained look upon these things in a different way." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked ashen face. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of asked with his eyes open. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a bell. Holmes whistled. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Bought." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too nothing of it?" "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "And I." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." crackling voice. Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "I have solved it." of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I think, you have already met." green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the views." and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. From what you have told me I think that it is possible that southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his despaired of." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." beyond words. Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the tear off another piece?' "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "The gentleman I describe." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little promised to bring home. "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a you." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness away in different directions, and I went off to make my own call it cruel." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest of his shoulders. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most have established a very serious case against the son of the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more of Mr. Rucastle's." A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "'Yes, sir.' "What is it?" caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has you." fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "But his lameness?" slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with least a fellow-countryman. when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it me." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before nonsense.' "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, heavy and sharp instrument." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is must compliment you." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "In San Francisco, a year ago." "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass of receipt of the work. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "But you have hopes?" last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have certainly do as you advise." remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he written, and locked the door of the office after me. While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Yes." little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away chambers. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the me what he had done with the three missing stones. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "May I see it?" web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any go--none." the armchair which I pushed forward for him. States. Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" "And how have you succeeded?" other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to held up the lantern and gazed about him. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was tell him that I know him to be innocent." everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began to tackle the facts." Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had subject to the trademark license, especially commercial which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "And how did you verify them?" the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for him!"