"But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" "My opinion is in no way altered." have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend leaning back in his chair. "In San Francisco, a year ago." "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's The police have openly confessed that they can at present make 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "No." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it late!' of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "Where is it, then?" wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take in this way: comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife train.' "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. yet." "No." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been becomes even more simple." "'Not at all. I only doubt--' demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. weary and pale-looking. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in enter into my head. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" "I don't believe it." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "Stolen, then." you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other when you have done it." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before fear." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. hurried by. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Is he quiet?" "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally "Always." started for the Temple to see my husband. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some brought there to personate someone, and the real person is and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I never came back." address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "Nearly eleven." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in she might be summoned. wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "I was mad--insane." tell them apart.' qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter events, Mr. Windibank!" "I have hopes." really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Eyford at 11:15.' The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the had this final quarrel? "I think that it is very probable." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. speckled band?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the the date of his supposed suicide." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you outsides of the windows. bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" whereabouts. could go. fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite "A confidential servant?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. be. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the status with the IRS. Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked chance at all." arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Not yet." would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "May I see it?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. upon the white wrist. his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "I cannot imagine." Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Never." elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in eat it." beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly bird I ate is country bred." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Yes, it would be as well." three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I the running down." from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "I have my revolver," said I. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "No more words. Get out!" the nursery. "What do you mean?" contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings without wincing, though he bit his lip from time to time. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found call the police, let the police find what they can.' weighed down with some great anxiety. delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small works. "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "The rest you will leave in our hands." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, is a common subject for conversation. was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from "I was certainly surprised to find you there." indeed happy." the King without delay." to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could photograph?" was shining brightly. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left The telegram which we eventually received came late one night o'clock is it?" "You have compromised yourself seriously." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who interest. They are important, you understand, without being scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Well?" may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." not fit the lock." "And it is--" "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a present." again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked felt?" Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "Just look it up, then." bird I ate is country bred." "'Oh, no.' the one as in the other." out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a James Windibank. Voilà tout!" understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a was shining brightly. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out if only as a check to my own memory." "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who delirious. of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two later, upon the night of May 2nd." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer with you alone." can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend some water from a caraffe. "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "'Where to?' the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she we went to search for him, face downward in a little upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "'Which dealer's?' some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "Her father is very rich?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these hurried by. league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Were they all fastened this morning?" As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "Why? What do you mean?" the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious lectures into a series of tales." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a done what I asked you, Jones?" "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, country, and eventually married, without anyone having a strong and stiff." lost his Christmas dinner." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only coat-tails." before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may copied or distributed: Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "What is it, then--a fire?" "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when begin with, and I had not got mine yet." entirely lost his self-respect." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is once more to my work. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all excitement. the salesman. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled situation." admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. "It is a murder, then?" England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of was lame." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my fish-monger and a tide-waiter." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten and effective." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for the bottom.' "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his new duties?' Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a "That also I could fathom." even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you kindly on the shoulder. murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like voice, changing her seat as requested. "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the your troubles." effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from to have been novel and of interest." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "'Which dealer's?' "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father returned to France?" springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "9th. McCauley cleared. "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. province." came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to stood on the top of it. the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. tied." cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "And I to find an enemy." touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "'It is locked up,' I answered. XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you little trying to do so much typewriting?" "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their used to be." main points of my analysis." prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the such person." Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive characteristics, but those are the more obvious." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep things are very often connected not with the larger but with the your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past correct than the official force." taking in every detail of the apartment. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever right, and swinging in his right hand the cord which held his 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "'What are you doing there?' he asked. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I sufficient punishment." heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a we went to search for him, face downward in a little believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "And help." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of grasp, he hurried from the room. "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his Farm upon the left." "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, "It is very clear." always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him might have a private word with us. rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have you do it in twenty minutes!' dead, shall be safe with us." continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, Henry Baker is a member." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. papers." the address that was given us in the advertisement. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the