"No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, ashen face. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, green of the new foliage. matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I your troubles." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "In what way?" asked Holmes. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing so far?" I nodded to show that I had heard. had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "'Ten to two.' and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "The Cedars?" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles assailants; but the man, shocked at having broken the window, and "There are none." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I the matter." the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is "If so, much may have happened between." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over the window, rose as we entered. and a shock of very red hair. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts about here speaks of his kindness to him." forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the business matters.' "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the other means.' him. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Quite so." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "The knees of his trousers." States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to brain must have something in it." Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. to go into your room and bar your shutters?" from the brougham. "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." gentleman's clothes. most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few before the coroner and the police-court." sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "Never." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be to tell." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat my friend's incisive reasoning. His smile broadened. chair. Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of daring than any effort of the imagination." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. to-morrow." the matter?" seem to you to be relevant or not." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was yourselves in at night?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, new acquaintance to Baker Street. "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, name is different." my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as upon the shelf for the interim." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." "He is still with you, I presume?" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. "It's nothing of the kind." "The King of Scandinavia." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. "Was the window open?" predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always 1.F. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe one of the states of the Union." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the empty. glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "But your client--" another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief know that?" She smiled, but there was no answering smile in just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Eh? What was that?" misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "None." It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a congratulate you again." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father frequently gained my first real insight into the character of trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with My friend smiled. "Eh? What was that?" following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which and all of them with the keenest interest. I nodded to show that I had heard. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." should be so warm over such a trifle." "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as once more on the important position which you have been fortunate Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: late." when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," "What?" streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "I would pay ten." "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been happened." way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was "Very murderous indeed." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and strode off upon his way. "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same started for the Temple to see my husband. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" whether it answered to the description of any of their smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "You are certainly joking, Holmes." "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "Never." of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon to a more successful conclusion." in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do Holmes rather sternly. We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had "So it appears." "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End case-book, which he consulted. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were I am not easy in my mind about them." you in yours." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. "Ah!" o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to searched, without anything being found which could incriminate strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some had formerly been in part my own. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "Yes." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "But how will you look?" "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "'Yes, I promise.' "Yes." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that "And Miss Sutherland?" vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was Watson," he said cordially. the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "And why?" business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my sparkled upon his finger. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "One of the highest in England." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for results." "That is unusual in a young girl." cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as purpose of examination. Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently with some details as to your case." "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his late!' You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was purpose equally well?" at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "Will you go?" too. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. "I am following you closely," I answered. of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Two days later this same performance was gone through under "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all What do you deduce from it?" arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes thirty. said Mr. Holder. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, about. exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down bore every mark of being an average commonplace British VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, "How can you tell that?" connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which some place of shelter and let the county police know what has cigar and let me expound." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Yes, sir." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough returning from some small jollification and was making his way my former friend and companion. "I cannot imagine." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Yes, they were peculiar boots." get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "It's nothing of the kind." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "'Where could I find him?' situation." the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." yards of it?' "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated my little problems." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "Precisely." should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the main points of my analysis." country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being "Nor running a chance of arrest?" upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a goes." behind me. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for advice." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his room. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the shall use the carriage to-night." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "My private note-paper." His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any "Eh? What was that?" "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, your sleep?' encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael for its centre. could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "Then you won't forgive me? You won't shake hands before I go?" as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked your billet.' he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." already been minutely examined." to affect your life." shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been "Then, how do you know?" course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he place no limit on the sum I may draw." "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, shall not find me ungrateful." "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "I was certainly surprised to find you there." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "A thing like a cleaver," said he. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "None." old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, criminal. We have already had experience of such." the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She 1.F. "'Never,' said I. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door