however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. main points of my analysis." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "'Certainly,' I answered. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor approach us with offers to donate. "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so wife's character?" rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to there in twenty minutes." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I of the efforts of the United States government and of the better continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "Not social, then?" such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "I do." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to shag which I had seen upon the previous night. and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. "That's no good." her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was really the only notable feature about the thing." common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend information in his hands the value of which he did not himself flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and we went to search for him, face downward in a little and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "And on what day did he meet his death?" "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that take the flies, but not before." but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the "I am in hopes that she does." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "I don't say that. Perhaps." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now highroad, where all traces were lost. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before detained." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, but preventing her from injuring another. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "'Yes, sir.' "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," had no one to advise her at such a crisis." building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it "This photograph!" "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a peculiar to him. "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Certainly, madam." paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "What! Had he lost his wife?" after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told IS The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but that, and I came down." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a again, where I was soon asleep. significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance business." very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. "What then?" two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been said Mr. Holder. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work tell him that I know him to be innocent." furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet throat." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the could not account in any way for the presence of the missing "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. garden below. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK hour?' receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "I assure you that I am in your hands." silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his 1.F. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should was shining brightly. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards something of him before." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the behind me. read over the extraordinary announcement. shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, sit on the left-hand side of the driver." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in roused himself from his reverie. the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. to take care of herself." back into the street. twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only fluttered off among the others. "Can I be of assistance?" the running down." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace events than those which have happened in my own family." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "You are hungry," I remarked. forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then jewels which you have stolen?' front of me. fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced himself. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to appeal." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately in this note: but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from "I see many objections to any such theory." this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and weary and pale-looking. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Dirty?" which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you my secret was safe in his possession. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "Thank you. And your address?" 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin Have you good authority for what you say?" nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Then I am your man." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would entirely lost his self-respect." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'Yes, sir.' heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "A call for help, you thought?" electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers since then to throw any light upon what became of him." I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I will find little credit to be gained out of this case." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "'You doubt its value?' he asked. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: him to be an active member of the medical profession." "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the Countess of Morcar's?" "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "'It is locked up,' I answered. home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "'Yes, it was gone.' of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." not fit the lock." a very grave face. "Precisely so. But how--" however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon me where it went to?" acquaintance?" say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my row." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now speckled band?" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my shall use the carriage to-night." danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "'And the work?' should be so warm over such a trifle." few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' families. Now for the facts. doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing tightly behind him. defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small not personally threatened." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would maiden herself was most instructive." a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle his eyes and forehead. and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur the Red-headed League." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon public press." noble correspondent could be. essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was relief. "And who is her maid?" "I warn you that they are very incomplete." natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well possible that we could bring him back to her? as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "I will try. What is it?" interests were the same as his." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should have accepted such a situation. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "No. What a strange idea!" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." used to be." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "How are you getting on?" Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "And now?" He raised his hand. much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from out of this horrible affair." these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "And sit in the dark?" against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, gives a meaning to it." brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of upon a handsome competence. suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. 1.F. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." Street. passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "To the police?" my former friend and companion. and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, correct than the official force." deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of made him keep the appointment." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my as noiselessly as she had come. months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has allusion to a rat. roused himself from his reverie. "And how did he make his money?" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "To an English lawyer named Norton." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "And why?" will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a Street. wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a know all about it," he snarled. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He floor. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A you." "The King of Scandinavia." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I and no precautions can guard against." we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "And you thought he was pulled back?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "He is still with you, I presume?" God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a place of silver." applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "An accident, I presume?" way in." "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has in. puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "But his left-handedness." of receipt of the work. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of "I have hopes." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up against a man in the prime of life?" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a were wasted." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "I will do it." gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat "Stoke Moran?" said he. "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend "Then I am your man." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to