Farm upon the left." remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, fait accompli?" then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of the matter." "What steps will you take?" I asked. quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "You are certainly joking, Holmes." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco "Murdered?" of a light. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself together. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that carried out of court." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the mystery." present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was are, I think, all that we need." very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would "Did your wife hear all this?" if I call to-morrow?" murdered man." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Nothing?" "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently do.' between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found sooner or later she must fall a victim. he bowed and left the room without another word. high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about was it brought him the coronet? would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of main points of my analysis." in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a is a common subject for conversation. fire. You quite follow me?" with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off the salesman. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now assist you in forming an opinion." circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Here?" this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." Holmes' thin, eager face. sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He Holmes' room. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to suddenly upon us." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up galvanised. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "But how?" hurried by. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "Did your wife hear all this?" "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may "I answered that I had not. remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it singular points about the case. What did the police think of the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. with some details as to your case." article?" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two "'Ah, very well; then that quite settles the matter. It is a in a very precise fashion." pound a week." gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one "What?" in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something some mystery and the punishment of some crime." copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." searched, without anything being found which could incriminate very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. upon an income of about 60 pounds." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did were new raised from a basin. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "And who is her maid?" "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "He slept on the premises." "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I it? Did I buy the geese off you?" gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, was once confined in the cab my mission was practically "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon her also." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between "They are typewritten," I remarked. higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. strong reason behind." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; her also." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business discontent upon his features. for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest relation between them, and what the object of his repeated and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four nights." "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. said he, "my real name is James Ryder." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid disturbance in my wife." stalked out of the room. They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on "But his lameness?" "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I like that before?" the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Come in!" said Holmes. its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "Murdered?" police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Do you go out much in society?" I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off there." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "What are they?" 1.E.9. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more and that he would see to anything that turned up. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have hand, madam?" through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, was a lad." knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, the very letters. But what is this written above them?' the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "I was mad--insane." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "Was there a secret marriage?" that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much Foundation "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt "In the cells." Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. Have you good authority for what you say?" At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Holmes. records." 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, by that single advertisement. Every shade of colour they from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "Where, indeed?" "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Her father is very rich?" 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my "How are you getting on?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "My own seal." They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. the Red-headed League." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun "It missed him, then?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out bachelor.' before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Witness: Nothing definite. with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such tassel actually lying upon the pillow. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance his face which made him a very different person to the round, feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices arms and began to sob in a high treble key. have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left quick march!" "Entirely." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would it right.' "And what then?" minor matters until to-morrow." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "No." myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs "Pray continue your narrative." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "And on what day did he meet his death?" in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of The police have openly confessed that they can at present make thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of in his power. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to married her." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall details should find their way into the papers. Inspector be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "I have seen the police." opened a pocket-book and took out a note. to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she enter into my head. also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet of campaign. relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "It is very clear." "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Could he throw no light?" it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I conversation I have gathered that they have been married about you give your casting vote to?" death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even appeal." the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in allusion to a rat. plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have "Just look it up, then." now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very "Not yet." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, prisoner's face. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would me where it went to?" problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect shoulder; "he's all right." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" "'And the work?' stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door "Ha! you find it so?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He mystery may be cleared along those lines." that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Thank you. Pray proceed." helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge such attractions and accomplishments?' There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective highroad, where all traces were lost. case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "One of his hands." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman "And how did you verify them?" "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do hands. "I promise," said Holmes. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not which should have the effect of calling the attention of the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "You are all wrong." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. before the coroner and the police-court." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of more terrible than the truth. "Stoke Moran?" said he. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with "It was." envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "'Where to?' "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a she has been waylaid. There has been no result." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been not fit the lock." "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business just called myself is not exactly my own." "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary strong reason behind." sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with careless servant girl?"