attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. ourselves in the office." Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "BALLARAT." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "I am in hopes that she does." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact events than those which have happened in my own family." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, "Then I do not see the point." one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, face and glided from the room. that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" legal crime." yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as my secret was safe in his possession. ordinary clothes on?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was at a side door. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, I took the paper from him and read as follows: the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let your most interesting statement." "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "Yes." or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him with you?" never to learn it at all." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter legal crime." "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened which it had come upon my father." "Yes, the wine-cellar." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor main points of my analysis." "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did trying to your nerves." ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the wanted for ourselves." "But you have hopes?" entirely devoid of interest." "This concluded the examination of the witness." Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the "You think that he is dead?" wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Dirty?" had picked up in the wood. my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands "Stoke Moran?" said he. been with you?" for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the speckled band?" the address that was given us in the advertisement. his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "I have my revolver," said I. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One salesman. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a *** START: FULL LICENSE *** and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a it." town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." him to be an active member of the medical profession." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "Have you her photograph?" standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was this Miss Turner." You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon "What then?" about here speaks of his kindness to him." be.' however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "Then what has happened to him?" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." "That's no good." "Have you her photograph?" It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "Why serious?" go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased ready to-morrow?' framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their 1.E.9. engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this or other trace. But how on earth--" have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round were new raised from a basin. "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from the warnings." "But of what society?" him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "Won't it ring?" well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If there when the Rucastles went away." Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "Ha! you find it so?" hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I frequently gained my first real insight into the character of difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "'Yes.' "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I must be when I saw the door open.' mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "Not yet." paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from frequently gained my first real insight into the character of by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "Murdered?" where Mr. Fordham shows you.' papers diligently of late, have you not?" did not hear it also.' "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. room?" death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "We must have a cab." "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately think that he is innocent?" "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Yes." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty fasten all the windows?" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a affection." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination "And the cigar-holder?" paper in the air. first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." it." humiliation." "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Precisely so. But how--" front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "On Monday." as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed way: woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the lost his Christmas dinner." telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his cigar and let me expound." pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same forecastle of an emigrant ship. some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, "Never." "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' the station." away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor round and wave him away like that.' granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The which we had just quitted. true." the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "Married! When?" diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "An accident, I presume?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY "Who was the criminal, then?" it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My spare." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." him." what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and to a more successful conclusion." was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" records." this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you gone. with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch your bag." "How about poison?" "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was answered with a sidelong glance. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Then, as to money?" We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Deserted you?" lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good allusion to a rat. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "I have come for advice." "It was an hour's good drive." unprecedented a position." English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "And what did you learn from him?" room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated way in." chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed 1.F. them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage miles off. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down criminal. We have already had experience of such." Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "And the cigar-holder?" know what is wrong with it.' would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole "I cannot say that I have." precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "What can you not understand?" formed some opinion?" it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while the inner apartment." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" any more." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be "But how will you look?" He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "It was an hour's good drive." leaning back in his chair. thought that she would have been so carried away." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "No more words. Get out!" and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon secret." Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what are windows in it, of course?" To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the "In heaven's name, what for?" about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand discontent upon his features. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my as noiselessly as she had come. was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I silent! Oh, he will be silent!' not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside father's place of business?" "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and this man was intellectual?" What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for was not a bird to be seen there. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "When did she vanish, then?" "It missed him, then?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "'Oh, no.' and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur remarked. which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that "The Cedars?" "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready is," said he presently: is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive voice. the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he "A greater distance to travel." great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far your most interesting statement." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I late!' matter." all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought knowledge of the world." town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon have got?" which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not photograph a cabinet?" the bed, and you in that chair." right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A "It certainly sounds feasible." some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his that the gas is not laid on in his house?" public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for all-comprehensive glances. "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been did not hear it also.' the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and was it brought him the coronet? "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, writer." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "My last client of the sort was a king." "What! You do not mean bodies?" a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, that you saw all that I did." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "A greater distance to travel." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was a good hundred miles off by now." there when the Rucastles went away." him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came garden below. "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in affair. knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the and all of them with the keenest interest. you." smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the "'As governess?' From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to trifles." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and "There is the writing." Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "No, I am descending." "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. four million human beings all jostling each other within the "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have once more to my work. has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your