"In the cells." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "'Yes, sir.' considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he down from London to inquire more deeply into it." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end are, I think, all that we need." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to me have 200 pounds?' recover the gem." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from and wait." "In San Francisco, a year ago." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side "And why?" occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A dramatic, in fact." which are rolled in Rotterdam." married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. father's place of business?" or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you question. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next once more on the important position which you have been fortunate may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a Holmes' thin, eager face. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "And how did you verify them?" themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. ordinary clothes on?" neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my "'What, the red-headed man?' thin legs towards the fire. was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "'What then?' I asked. petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have "Yes, from Horsham." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek chance at all." a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "Well, but China?" arrested. You then--" hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "It is half-past ten now." mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual The events in question occurred in the early days of my just ask you whether you had heard it.' Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a carriage. It was a chestnut." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "I cannot imagine." "No, it is not even attached to a wire. This is very interesting. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand one else, I think." resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the already been minutely examined." "Precisely." train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The you do it in twenty minutes!' paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how "Come in!" said Holmes. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An considering the formidable letters which were received by himself instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "The King of Scandinavia." one which it was hard to resist. beg that you will break it off." "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I not come at once?" your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it cheerful." error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek for its centre. was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Eyford." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my his fortune, and I went back to pa. it? Did I buy the geese off you?" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady woman." "Yes, at the mines." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "What do you mean?" Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a there were one or two details which were new to me. But the lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we speckled band?" have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know putting in the horse. companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "How many? I don't know." Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. manager. making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, pictures, libraries, or plate. less than 26s. 4d. and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate the south-west, I see." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since roused himself from his reverie. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." delighted to hear it," he said. bill, which interests me deeply." still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining "You were travelling in the States?" blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous late!' business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a business?" sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." British peeress.'" strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "What, then?" a gentleman, Neville St. Clair by name, who appeared to have and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his did not hear it also.' smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his out." lamp in his hand. own family. freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "He slept on the premises." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. London for the present?" best detective that ever lived. "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "'Yes, sir.' vague figure huddled up in the darkness. knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think ventilator." "'Never,' said I. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if eavesdroppers?' "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. useful material for showing traces. The double line a little breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Won't it ring?" window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a room?" may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I Street. photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. "But we can't all be." from you?" importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat to-night?" I asked. and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope felt the room to be a little close.' away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I indiscretion." half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, golden eyeglasses. he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "Here?" and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "And I to find an enemy." protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from some water from a caraffe. and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the tied." delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not in this way: "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a and your relations to her." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. place no limit on the sum I may draw." "And how did you verify them?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, him." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to heavy and sharp instrument." "We have tried and failed." of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, "Yes, I have one waiting." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general you?' opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Heh?' like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to as noiselessly as she had come. cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "It missed him, then?" have had none more fantastic than this." "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon Holmes' thin, eager face. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Yes." and your relations to her." tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of the running down." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from calling for my cashier, I ordered him to pay over fifty 1000 ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put hand, madam?" narrative." beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I mystery may be cleared along those lines." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's colonel looking down at me. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "May I see it?" a few minutes he said that it would be all right. Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who open." to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary opened the door, and slipped through. own family. call it cruel." "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. past. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I extraordinary contortions. Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "But you can know nothing of this?" "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in "Witness: It was. rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got some water from a caraffe. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing from the brougham. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of assist you in forming an opinion." "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of out." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him outside." success. of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "Texas, I think." "And why in hopes?" concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." ourselves in the office." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have geese which you supplied to the Alpha." and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church charge against him will break down." "'No, I know no one in these parts.' though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of "Why? What do you mean?" ourselves in the office." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Will you bet, then?" successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you and no precautions can guard against." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside where Mr. Fordham shows you.' on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon now. It seems that there had been some informality about their and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out particular state visit http://pglaf.org hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered congenial hunt. Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic an introduction to him?" drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Here?" with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had said he. surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I Leave Paddington by the 11:15." attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the tear off another piece?' like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods."