straighten it?" just called myself is not exactly my own." confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I 1.E.9. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our characteristics, but those are the more obvious." and the colonel ushered me in. "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." in a friendly supper." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect "What! You do not mean bodies?" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our advice." sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Well, but China?" "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. in this way: "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the of a light. the stones. some city in a dream. dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H criminal. We have already had experience of such." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry more solid." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "And is that all?" a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of your equipment. "But how?" "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "So I have heard." "And Irene Adler?" partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. "Yes, from Horsham." charge against him will break down." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we a suggestive one." once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of "What of the rat, then?" she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "So I have heard." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, struck savagely at each other with their fists and sticks. Holmes opened the door, and slipped through. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then next day. ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. any." "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. at once, for I have only half an hour." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to clanging. farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. "But the mystery?" "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean "'It is locked up,' I answered. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so a little more before I quite committed myself. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each crime. quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "'As governess?' having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of "'As governess?' for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of learned something! Where are the gems?" with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium persecution?" the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, at a side door. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "My last client of the sort was a king." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His until your reason breaks down under them and acknowledges me to violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very next day. daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "What! Had he lost his wife?" the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect some city in a dream. accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a the morning and make my own way in the world.' cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' Arthur Conan Doyle threw himself down with his face to the pillow. I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg McCarthy's innocence. face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there to-night." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I even so self-evident a thing as that." "'Entirely.' the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable to tell." He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, "He said too much." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some you want, then?' noble correspondent could be. "Why serious?" gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said fasten all the windows?" Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of cigar and let me expound." matter over." his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said "Because he was handy and would come cheap." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon this Miss Turner." which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told papers." when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "'You cannot say what it was?' offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Then I shall certainly come." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to "My Mary? Impossible!" "That's no good." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "It is solved." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what petty way as ever came before me. Now, let me just run over the solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew and laid it on the table. and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to I am not easy in my mind about them." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "It looks newer than the other things?" "And you can do nothing until then?" There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been figure." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously case before our client came into the room." second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. British peeress.'" in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" way in." him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "How on earth--" in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "ARAT," I read. the nursery. "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend strange features which were associated with the two crimes which I held the little printed slip to the light. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a all?" becomes even more simple." the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It License. You must require such a user to return or overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall her also." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions the coroner come to?" state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out closing the door. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate cigars in the box." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right III. direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was the salesman. something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to the coronet at all injured?" "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be yards of it?' hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his following enigmatical notices: Clair, of Lee." however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." it. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage least a fellow-countryman. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the soul! here is her carriage at the door." informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, think that any burglar could have done. re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "You are hungry," I remarked. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" be. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is woman." keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for few hundred pounds.' pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the and inquire as to the address." nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Your sister is dead, then?" "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very standing smiling on the door-step. eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the depend upon your compliance." with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this "And Miss Sutherland?" Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. wedding?" silent! Oh, he will be silent!' I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "The best possible." and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "I have a cab outside." make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue hard-headed British jury." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "From his hat?" heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "At half-wages, in fact." brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "Then the page we have seen--" "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with bird of prey. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "Dirty?" waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "And you can do nothing until then?" former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of case before our client came into the room." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "How many? I don't know." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive all that?" think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he down in his armchair and closing his eyes. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do a room. distinguish the words: "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another chance at all." "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with nonsense.' the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the society." Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." papers." "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. him!" "On Monday." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of gbnewby@pglaf.org predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and take the flies, but not before." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets have got?" journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "It looks newer than the other things?" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been what is your own theory as to what took place?" without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a such person." with frightened eyes at his accuser. the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society place no limit on the sum I may draw." Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a of Mr. Rucastle's." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. swore that no one else had been in the front room during the magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten foot. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources "Then I do not see the point." "The doctor?" to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that