"Imitated." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some there is a decided draught." maiden herself was most instructive." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how business." man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The have I gained?" came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He man. insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "You have the photograph?" thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the gone. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had south, for the country is more deserted there." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special instincts rose up against that laugh. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "You are hungry," I remarked. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Do you receive much company?" he asked. I am not easy in my mind about them." "When did it break out?" dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes obstinate." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "There is the writing." "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass himself. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." important." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens yet." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "What do you make of that, Watson?" "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I them, and came down just as you departed. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong time." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "A greater distance to travel." certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "No." coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the used to be." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "What do you make of that, Watson?" of his shoulders. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "'Is purely nominal.' cheerful." "You have carte blanche." request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been was lame." a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward narrative." third from London." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very bedroom door." going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "Nothing?" fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to in your London, you will know that the office of the company is formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "How long did she speak to this Alice?" that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "You have a clue?" "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Well, but China?" make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He IS "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in to surprise her." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them call the police, let the police find what they can.' accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "Then how many are there?" 11:15.' James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some call the police, let the police find what they can.' ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "To an English lawyer named Norton." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they which I could not give. He asked for Alice. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back to talk it over. cost them two and thirty pounds." reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you not as remarkable as your advertisement." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, point in the dark hollow of his hand. served to weaken the effect. approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "I assure you that I am in your hands." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about nonsense.' his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just fluttered off among the others. way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? room. "Nothing." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "And Miss Sutherland?" "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for my friend's incisive reasoning. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. "The knees of his trousers." connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you been lifted and conveyed somewhere." I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. hereditary King of Bohemia." "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second "Yes." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate promised to bring home. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. salesman. "How can you tell that?" my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "Pray be precise as to details," said he. very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "It missed him, then?" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "Then you may be so with me." been." pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Nearly eleven." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a the station." male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "Do you receive much company?" he asked. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which you." no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." indeed which he could not unravel. and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low fire. You quite follow me?" "Was he the only applicant?" for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked "It may not come to that," said Holmes. reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' as he remarks, very much against the son." It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "Nor running a chance of arrest?" conclusions. the nursery. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. be there in time for your coming." the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped room had already been engaged for us. "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the better grown goose." "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. Holmes rather sternly. "Were they all fastened this morning?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" writer." to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I said I. flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such once more. "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "I warn you that they are very incomplete." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the and I shall be with you presently." machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your nothing of it?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, "Precisely so. But how--" hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own there has been an enclosure here!" felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not you for a few hours?" "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "My dear Holmes!" like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was one else, I think." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "And I." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is fat-encircled eyes. scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Indeed! Whose, then?" "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "But I am all in the dark." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' other, as fresh and trim as possible. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "May I see it?" "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under the tragedy. "But he might be a bachelor." "Yes, it was twisted." stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth brandy and water within his reach. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He his face which made him a very different person to the round, "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting photograph?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone "By train from Waterloo." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg written, and locked the door of the office after me. other lovers by making love himself." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "You are certainly joking, Holmes." to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you lumber-room." her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. married her." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "No, thank goodness, she did not." and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "Deserted you?" beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "Precisely." inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend there has been an enclosure here!" "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of