with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me of note-paper. It read in this fashion: with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the "You think so, too?" "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "Dr. Becher's." ceremony." away into the river." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no notes," he said. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without "It surprised me." grasp, he hurried from the room. opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by him, that man would not have given me such complete information Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Could he throw no light?" active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in you give your casting vote to?" never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." could gather together that I was able to avert another public the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little for its centre. "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing crackling voice. "So I see," the other answered with the utmost coolness. "I fancy frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "An enemy?" foresight and the moral retrogression?" of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "'As governess?' cigars in their mouths. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "You saw the ventilator, too?" "10th. John Swain cleared. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce will be renamed. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it at once, for I have only half an hour." few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "What of the rat, then?" "I never have." Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "Then you may be so with me." calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the envelope. "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in "No more words. Get out!" Leave Paddington by the 11:15." much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "This photograph!" should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a highly," said Holmes. dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with jewels which you have stolen?' from the brougham. sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "And you can do nothing until then?" direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" strong and stiff." utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small several quiet little villages up there." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of outside. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "One of his hands." home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall weary and pale-looking. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, good for you to do.' chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss was used.' in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, standing smiling on the door-step. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was hand, madam?" the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the into the room. as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "If so, much may have happened between." "And sit in the dark?" it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "'Yes, sir.' suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank "And why in hopes?" the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her I am not easy in my mind about them." "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is cheerful." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become flock.' "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled bore every mark of being an average commonplace British purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my "But who is he?" fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of was a lad." formed some opinion?" She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were "By no means." tell him that I know him to be innocent." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we correct than the official force." "And why?" him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream should be so warm over such a trifle." permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "Stoke Moran?" said he. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have speckled band?" analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to to affect your life." derbies." where a corner holding three gems had been torn away. some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. the King without delay." little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "What then?" time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is a few minutes he said that it would be all right. crime." "And why in hopes?" Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and page at http://pglaf.org green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would upon the white wrist. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "Dr. Becher's." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a never came back." "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project from you?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," problems help me to do so." Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a tapping his fingers upon the table. the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'I am sure that I do not know.' in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal "It is possible." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow one which it was hard to resist. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to "Then you may entirely rely on me." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and possible that we could bring him back to her? "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: enter Dr. Roylott's room." bedroom door." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little she slowly sank and died without having recovered her politicians who had been sent down from the North. "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." future lives." so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very the very morning of the wedding." ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw seven miles from Eyford Station.' "I say that I have solved it." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised chill to my heart. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "How did you deduce the select?" study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Which surely he restored to their owner?" in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was out." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant sentimental considerations in the background which would induce is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and that I may have something better before very many minutes are makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over do.' "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In "Well, but China?" "I promise," said Holmes. railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a you came in." bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Her father is very rich?" top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master main points of my analysis." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking like that before?" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a Munro.' Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "It is true that I have been generally successful." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I 'please.'" which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to "'Most admirably.' "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." with you?" style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know status with the IRS. come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of noble correspondent could be. "No, my brougham is waiting." you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Well, it is a possible supposition." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear without success. At last the little money which I had saved began abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "Yes, sir." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Not him." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "Your presence might be invaluable." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The in the dead of the night?' I have it here in my museum." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "I cannot tell." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I once more on the important position which you have been fortunate and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "The doctor?" and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after your equipment. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and such attractions and accomplishments?' "In heaven's name, what for?" the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Dark enough and sinister enough." "I think that it is very probable." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any were unconscious?" "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to mystery!" with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him name is different." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery when your master had gone out." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the success. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, which we had just quitted. business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, the very morning of the wedding." which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Pray do so." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, and it need not interfere very much with one's other he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "It was a confession," I ejaculated. sufficient punishment." that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of heavy and sharp instrument." bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "She will not sell." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "My private note-paper." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that writers could invent nothing more crude." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could sofa. This way, please!" morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains wife's character?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "But she will refuse." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk my secret was safe in his possession. if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in roused himself from his reverie. been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "I am in hopes that she does." "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. Clair, of Lee." everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich "Well?" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "Really! You surprise me." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "I cannot say that I have."