off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very good-night and bustled off upon her way. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become own family. sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural discontent upon his features. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and formed some opinion?" eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no one's self under obligations.' space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." License. You must require such a user to return or the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray spark where all is dark to me." so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that problems help me to do so." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "That is possible." Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one "How often?" morning." age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden before, for it was considerably after midnight. approach us with offers to donate. with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "We were both in the photograph." Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, more solid." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "No bad?" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "About a month then." lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the the Red-headed League." address. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Yes." himself in a perplexing position. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' think that he is innocent?" think you a quite exceptional woman." relief. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he upon the sideboard." orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "No." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. think that any burglar could have done. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, four million human beings all jostling each other within the "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Yes." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "One?" pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the simple cases which are so extremely difficult." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "By no means." "Yes, the wine-cellar." 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. Miss Holder?" case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. "'You cannot say what it was?' game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "You'll never persuade me to believe that." ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I "That was it, sir." returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling matter." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "'The family of Lord Robert St. Simon has been thrown into the low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural chair. the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your seem to you to be relevant or not." And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the to recognise the presence of those great elemental forces which said he. upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If and all of them with the keenest interest. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the was used.' my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "His face fell immediately. "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Pray tell us what has happened to you." These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had case-book, which he consulted. Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I triumphant cloud from his cigarette. blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. feature." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "Have you it here?" the iron safe, which he closed upon it. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just ways including including checks, online payments and credit card her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "Can I be of assistance?" "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. "No, finished." "Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still said I. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "Just look it up, then." "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" or other trace. But how on earth--" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for "Indeed! Whose, then?" heavy and sharp instrument." Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has written, and locked the door of the office after me. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." you found me to-night--and running through the front room she dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me appeared upon the scene." vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One emerged. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in death." "You know me, then?" refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and "And that is--" the coronet at all injured?" Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came absolutely follow my advice in every respect." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, results." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "Frequently." "Your French gold?" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and "But I have heard all that you have heard." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is looking up at the numbers of the houses." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the I have it here in my museum." expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step "What do you mean?" "How on earth--" "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your introspective fashion. "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the asked. she slowly sank and died without having recovered her Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out better in every way that they should make their position a little "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past "But I have heard all that you have heard." feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his think that he is innocent?" what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been conclusions. scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or might have a private word with us. "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "None." this remarkable episode. observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense there in twenty minutes." learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "'Where to?' vanished from the window so suddenly that it seemed to her that continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of rat could hardly pass through." respectable self." think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared do." fluttered off among the others. introspective fashion. It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "And Irene Adler?" Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the himself. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge more terrible than the truth. business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, "And how did you verify them?" must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. call you and give you the chance." values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "And what did you learn from him?" cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip Eyford." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note in his hands." said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. "Entirely." master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and fire. You quite follow me?" but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "'Which dealer's?' outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out like gravel from a pit.' the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all to me. entirely devoid of interest." better grown goose." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very "'Tell me all about it,' said I. would apply.' George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. nights." "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger with her." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See have an American origin." possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the do." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "And from a noble client?" is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save his grey eyes. prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I "I answered that I had not. which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "Not particularly." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' tassel actually lying upon the pillow. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and "And how?" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this bonnet, and went out." power." was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "My Mary? Impossible!" Lee, in the county of Kent." wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly