which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Sholtos." human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Were they all fastened this morning?" yourselves in at night?" Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This noting anything else of interest. "Nor running a chance of arrest?" The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere made him keep the appointment." difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" woven round him. central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said your only hope of safety." strength in the others." moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "And how?" red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very the general public were present, then?" swore that no one else had been in the front room during the shall not find me ungrateful." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into any." collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible tied." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious of the way of danger. would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend his fortune, and I went back to pa. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a strength." crowd. awaited us upon the table. acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, Have you good authority for what you say?" "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "I am still in the dark." to-night?" I asked. "No, I think that I'll take it." terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "May I see it?" "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one followed. six. Come in!" have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the the station." "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave "'There is a drive, then?' into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "And what did you learn from him?" strength in the others." dead, shall be safe with us." relation between them, and what the object of his repeated which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, read over the extraordinary announcement. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this see me here to avoid scandal." very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his annoyance, but no jest. south, for the country is more deserted there." "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a of them has the shutters up.' Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a stepfather?" made him keep the appointment." "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Well, some hundreds of times." confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and at my remark. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took might help us?" you." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project and looked back. and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I back alive. one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who is a common subject for conversation. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "He slept on the premises." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell "'Oh, no.' trying to your nerves." have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" forbidden door. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in friend's singular character. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, Lestrade of Scotland Yard." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America "Where did he live, then?" more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as in one or two places in England?' hurried away. the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening DAMAGE. is worth.' "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and then?" head. So long, then!" rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed "No." before the coroner and the police-court." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. my room." cigars in the box." stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the 1.F. left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, "No." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door as he folded up the epistle. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical pierced for earrings?" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." Again Holmes raved in the air. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in I leave." "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, point our research must commence, and we will begin it by while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Well, really, I came to seek a theory, not to propound one. I "Frequently." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. anything to do with the matter?" conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the daring than any effort of the imagination." on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. The summons was a brief and urgent one. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the views." upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been "We were both in the photograph." the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat of this gang." have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing enter into my head. "It was." all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one tail." see me here to avoid scandal." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and we went to search for him, face downward in a little which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her shall use the carriage to-night." "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to I shall continue with my miserable story. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, and glanced through. pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said DAMAGE. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have chamber." "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of about here speaks of his kindness to him." spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and "Very well, sir. And this stone?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the Edgeware Road. servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall mysterious end." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, charged with?" 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: to a light-house. what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I allusion to a rat. the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, results." "I was sure that I might rely on you." The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. do you make of it all?" have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." handed it to him. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in individual and becomes the badge of a society." "You did not overhear what they said?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed in the direction of the floor. Suddenly my eyes caught the glint cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my easy-going way." old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just roused himself from his reverie. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the them?" and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry fled together." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would tail." companion. deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may of note-paper. It read in this fashion: greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the hereditary King of Bohemia." test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." married her." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. Literary Archive Foundation agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a danger is over." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "I see no marks." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I had no one to advise her at such a crisis." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in is a common subject for conversation. "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are over here." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I to-night." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. hardly wander." against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to several quiet little villages up there." them, and came down just as you departed. bird of prey. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open "Precisely." "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet soul! here is her carriage at the door." to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite colonel looking down at me. smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." situation." child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "No." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the to go into your room and bar your shutters?" nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man held up the lantern and gazed about him. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is