the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I back to my heart. should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that official police." play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Did he not advertise?" shall use the carriage to-night." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive heavily into it. lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband "I came to find a friend." Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. "9th. McCauley cleared. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "No, finished." fattened it expressly for you.' "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. indeed happy." he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "What is it?" occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but written. "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you neither fascinating nor artistic." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We and glanced through. year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last arrested. You then--" in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you Eyford." which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to Pope's Court, Fleet Street." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their It may be so in this case, also." important." "Then you may be so with me." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "But his lameness?" "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was is," said he presently: "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with as yours." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had conceal it?" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by your equipment. scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Will you bet, then?" of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Never." was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a This is what he says: sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "No." other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "What is it?" pressing in one house as in another. see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. bears upon the case?" "Nothing?" there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Yes, that is the Crown." "Was there a secret marriage?" "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the business at Coburg Square is serious." arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of "It is very kind of you." "Well, it is a possible supposition." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think manager. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "He might." "Whose house is it?" his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas death." "How many? I don't know." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little direction." money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white and files of the old papers, following the future career of every arrangements." electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "But how?" Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and official police." "Not in the least." his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us "Pray do so." "And how in the world did you find them?" had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a guilty parties." "But she will refuse." events, Mr. Windibank!" fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered which we had just quitted. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The in my life." during the last few years, and there are many noble families to better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of said he. "Then you may be so with me." in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "'Ten to two.' "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A fact, we may call it conclusive." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the my room." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double the general public were present, then?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "But he might be a bachelor." away into the river." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. discontent upon his features. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared "My Mary? Impossible!" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master it. occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! hurried by. name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, constraint." out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "Did he not advertise?" and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it in one or two places in England?' Again Holmes raved in the air. "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his undoubtedly my uncle's." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come never will be, entirely cleared up. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "We have tried and failed." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have vanished into the darkness. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us you give your casting vote to?" have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would and looked back. five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and "Yes, sir." been." metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Sholtos." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable call the police, let the police find what they can.' "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "Nothing?" upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, to have that photograph." fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as again before evening." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "That also I could fathom." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for system of imprisonment?" post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in one or two very singular points about this room. For example, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off certainly do as you advise." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal we went to search for him, face downward in a little "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. gone before you can get him to hospital." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a cigar and let me expound." protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "Yes." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. the running down." creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "Why did you beat the pavement?" low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a you want, then?' to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider Have you good authority for what you say?" "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions think that any burglar could have done. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall go from here to the Strand." 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the this truth that in these little records of our cases which you year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found character. "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "In answer to an advertisement." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, have not had my rubber." discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but both be extremely obliged.' His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been appeared upon the scene." "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Never to return." luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best The telegram which we eventually received came late one night work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "What then?" lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I bed dies. Does not that strike you?" coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "You have a clue?" photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately "When did she vanish, then?" that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away the armchair which I pushed forward for him. ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since is," said he presently: forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a strong and stiff." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even following enigmatical notices: humiliation." he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which of the efforts of the United States government and of the better responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. silent! Oh, he will be silent!' were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "No. What a strange idea!" direction." We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty three of the beryls in it, was missing. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "Precisely so. But how--" I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "And why?" and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would everything which you would wish to know." which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which official police." supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the careless servant girl?" crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "And you can do nothing until then?" "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us matter." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it your Highness to the police-station?" "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I the morning and make my own way in the world.' Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil looking up at the numbers of the houses." 'please.'" creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to there is a decided draught." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and in. work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any meant." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of Sign of Four, and the extraordinary circumstances connected with "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you