"My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she "He disappeared so suddenly." branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any observed. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and him to go away.' footfalls from the street. so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding "The rest you will leave in our hands." Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "Then you may be so with me." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which little trying to do so much typewriting?" A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is crime. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "Seven!" I answered. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat once of a morning, and then, after a time, he did not come in at seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite would then never go into court at all." keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in Cross for the Continent." "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the opened a pocket-book and took out a note. often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See tell him that I know him to be innocent." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." been able to understand it, in a very few words. quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a "Perhaps we may make them less so." devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "Pray do so." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm as he folded up the epistle. "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." your bag." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "And I say east," said my patient. It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had awkward doing business with an alias." saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my straighten it?" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we tear off another piece?' process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are back alive. away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he stammered. "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "I am sure." could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of relief. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." depend upon my doing so.' you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the manager. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. four million human beings all jostling each other within the "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good to-night?' hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring forehead. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "But he might be a bachelor." There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. "Where did he live, then?" been with you?" towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a formed some opinion?" "Always." Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said appeared upon the scene." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite me. in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen death." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. better in every way that they should make their position a little "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "Indeed! Whose, then?" should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, helping a boy to put up the shutters. When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to again before evening." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Where did he live, then?" "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "My last client of the sort was a king." play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "That sounds a little paradoxical." acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch girl said." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm girl said." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At in him." is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy States. "Proceed, then." treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Pray be precise as to details," said he. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had to that open window." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more one which it was hard to resist. "Will you bet, then?" "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "It is a murder, then?" "There are none." of his shoulders. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard breakfast." "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Pool. down in his armchair and closing his eyes. This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "So I heard. You have him here?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time tear off another piece?' snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "What I expected to see." "Absolutely?" humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding photograph a cabinet?" returning from some small jollification and was making his way sneer upon his pale face. "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other know that the truth is known." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "In which, sir?" inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "You horrify me." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was article?" to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, before, for it was considerably after midnight. "'Tell me all about it,' said I. like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs could go. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I ready to-morrow?' "Absolutely?" forbidden door. very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, relation between them, and what the object of his repeated as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "What will you say?" sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than with you?" While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. newspaper selections." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. detained." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which arrested. You then--" Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination one of the states of the Union." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I little trying to do so much typewriting?" Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned "But she could not love him." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the habit of advancing money.' "Never." "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "Then the page we have seen--" as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. "'Yes, it was gone.' the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six him!" confronted him. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my of the vacancies.' upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the "He might." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the standing smiling on the door-step. drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary his face. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an think that any burglar could have done. Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with the very letters. But what is this written above them?' On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I him, that man would not have given me such complete information considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "What will you say?" "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said time." the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "This concluded the examination of the witness." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." stood on the top of it. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which "I say that I have solved it." Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "'I have heard so.' merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed "I cannot as yet see any connection." "IRENE NORTON, née ADLER." bare slabs of marble. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold about. which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it likely to be some crony of the landlady's." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from there!' evidence," I remarked. thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without of." down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the amused." completely overtopped every other consideration that we both overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. there in twenty minutes." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. is worth.' his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the of the way of danger. said I. the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." of your young ladies.' however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an never to learn it at all." "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "What steps will you take?" I asked. interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which "Who by?" had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me business." the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "He is dead," cried several voices. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "My own seal." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version sofa. This way, please!" "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and tied." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful the room while you explain this matter?" wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that him!" yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room it." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug and I shall be with you presently." well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "'In my own bureau.' Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "'Very good.' It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. done what I asked you, Jones?" who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "10th. John Swain cleared. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather becomes even more simple." be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which chair. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian o'clock is it?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "An accident, I presume?" I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "Entirely." young Openshaw's." "He said too much." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were I took the paper from him and read as follows: "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "'And what salary do you ask?' red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "Perfectly so." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, views." "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the bottom.' A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a business?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to bachelor.' excellent spirits, swinging an old elastic-sided boot in his "Then how many are there?" "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to the tragedy. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as eavesdroppers?' quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. touch that coronet?' look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It "Yes, there are nearly always some there." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I him nearly every evening." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for room?" of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "'About the same.' think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there Miss Holder?" in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there