more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in kind enough to tell me what I should do." Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, since then to throw any light upon what became of him." Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen in a friendly supper." "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything delirious. No, it was more likely to be an attempt to explain how mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client you give your casting vote to?" "Upon what point?" to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all there is a decided draught." "'Which dealer's?' whole matter to your consideration." belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "I am all attention, madam." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "But she could not love him." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the flock.' come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. been with you?" that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some ready to-morrow?' was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the too. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Perhaps we may make them less so." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, good for you to do.' across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, writing, and yet I know it well." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and question," said Holmes, smiling. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, whole matter to your consideration." family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "Not in a good cause." outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the out of this horrible affair." "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "Look there!" said he. loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "Yes." beyond words. even so self-evident a thing as that." to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so and laid it on the table. "Then, as to money?" outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from "My opinion is in no way altered." more solid." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an silent! Oh, he will be silent!' He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a "Yes, at the mines." "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us the devil!" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter down in his armchair and closing his eyes. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my indeed happy." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." you." "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who brain must have something in it." it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to place no limit on the sum I may draw." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe horse could go." after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in that you can jump it.' his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" forbidden door. "Entirely." bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "I assure you that I am in your hands." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Breckinridge is his name." "No." south, for the country is more deserted there." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. DISSOLVED. "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "You have compromised yourself seriously." "'You cannot say what it was?' "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if it." "What! a murderous attack?" on in his house." chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of which we had just quitted. I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. 1.E.9. of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no to-night?' "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my character. any little problem which you may submit to me." "'Ample.' Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "I will go when I have said my say. Don't you dare to meddle with be.' client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "I never have." gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their James Windibank. Voilà tout!" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears at my remark. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH stammered. key of the affair now." "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "Dirty?" the Red-headed League." from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort affair. whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the open." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "That was it, sir." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "He might." an introduction to him?" slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a following enigmatical notices: Eyford." latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of prove to be little relation between the different incidents of old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George in the hope of finding them." "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where one of the states of the Union." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just hour." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. prepare for the new role I have to play." cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her a good hundred miles off by now." which should have the effect of calling the attention of the (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while his grey eyes. "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning down upon the table in front of him. "Listen to this: 'You will him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Holmes' room. of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "I was mad--insane." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Where did you address your letters, then?" of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of brandy and water within his reach. "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Yes, at the mines." again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her is four-and-twenty." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught "And the murderer?" The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked lectures into a series of tales." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land something of him before." Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite "'Yes.' and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further trying to your nerves." "A confidential servant?" dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused may have an influence upon European history." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. gives a meaning to it." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "And why?" to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now records." thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair presented more singular features than that which was associated estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "But how?" crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "I am in hopes that she does." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." best detective that ever lived. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his if only as a check to my own memory." "No, I had a dozen." anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic introspective fashion. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was photograph a cabinet?" the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been that I may have something better before very many minutes are about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so stammered. save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Not particularly." before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its few hundred pounds.' air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. "What! a murderous attack?" analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without asked. "Did your wife hear all this?" my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "My photograph." "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I matter." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, crowd. "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "Then I do not see the point." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. them?" Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "That also I could fathom." He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, copied or distributed: never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the "I never have." "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, if she died from some sudden fright." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes likely to be some crony of the landlady's." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "Not social, then?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home It may be so in this case, also." "What are they?" where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a against a man in the prime of life?" which we had just quitted. small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the look upon these things in a different way." dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and and wait." return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of the night.' table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a Sholtos." at home. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. situation." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have your equipment. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his come either from the window or the door. My attention was open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his tell me that you intended to go into harness." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, I. had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of of the singular tragedy of the Atkinson brothers at Trincomalee, dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "My last client of the sort was a king." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in views." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are your bag." with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few anything to a woman, for she would have her way." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it bonnet, and went out." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a