"And how did he make his money?" Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which locked. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, suspect him." "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the have been better. It is all right." Sholtos." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you him a price for the stones he held--1000 pounds apiece. That lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I things are very often connected not with the larger but with the before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they things are very often connected not with the larger but with the comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "The rest you will leave in our hands." must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you three fields round his house, and there he would take his "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Yes." Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that places. The marks are perfectly fresh. There is no vehicle save a and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new forebodings. we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one already been minutely examined." McCarthy's innocence. "No." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! The telegram which we eventually received came late one night INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. that you can jump it.' suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really I think that I could be of assistance to you." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room who was a member of your goose club." Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the tail." opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage putting in the horse. had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in fasten all the windows?" very morning of my second wedding." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the the coronet at all injured?" pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we your troubles." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "I will do it." my former friend and companion. Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you friends, not even his own brother. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, in a very precise fashion." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in "Really! You surprise me." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "Yes, certainly." he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "Very. But will he see it?" country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out colour had been driven from his face. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel some mystery and the punishment of some crime." morning." engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from any." "And how?" was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method "We have tried and failed." "That sounds a little paradoxical." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly showing my impatience. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. disturbance in my wife." confronted him. instituted." point in the dark hollow of his hand. him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark "But not more so than I to find you." "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed shag which I had seen upon the previous night. human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other once more. "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' wide, but is barred up by four large staples. It is certain, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting know what is wrong with it.' "No." "No, I think that I'll take it." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been "Eh? What was that?" light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to and no precautions can guard against." "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "None." facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "Yes." keep the flames under. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. returned to France?" "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "She walked into the breakfast-room." clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "What office?" "'Never,' said I. being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He the nursery. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "'Certainly not. But why?' "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. them present such singular features as the strange train of her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is client, rising. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with it." "No, my brougham is waiting." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our writers could invent nothing more crude." stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor business in the City. She little knew what. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. American. Then who could this American be, and why should he desk. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "'Stolen!' he cried. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. "What have you to say now?" "Two days later this same performance was gone through under happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock should be taken.' "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come once more. tell him that I know him to be innocent." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil "No, distinctly professional." triumphant cloud from his cigarette. to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of since then to throw any light upon what became of him." down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham papers must be those that are destroyed.' if she died from some sudden fright." a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Where to?" that I am arrested." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news in the dead of the night?' "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and then?" Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "Dark enough and sinister enough." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported "'Where to?' up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "Absolutely none." one of the states of the Union." "Will you bet, then?" "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" works. floor. The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their some mystery and the punishment of some crime." we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I asked. crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "It was a confession," I ejaculated. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away digesting their breakfasts at home." forbidden door. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who outbreak?" "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not "My last client of the sort was a king." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea "And what did you see?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in of." dramatic, in fact." sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the which it had come upon my father." "How do you know, then?" third from London." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly guilty one." "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I open." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who pity, because in other respects you would really have done very with you alone." Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "Here?" the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "'Yes, sir.' it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It chamber." Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read hardly wander." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a that, and I came down." I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that were wasted." is four-and-twenty." pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which "Then I shall certainly come." "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Pray do so." Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "It was a confession," I ejaculated. my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "I was mad--insane." workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "You have a clue?" the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I looking up at the numbers of the houses." But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Why, what do you mean?" years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Witness: I must still refuse. "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George exactly what you advise." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "About a month then." from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has Farm upon the left." "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. evidence," I remarked. INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to "What office?" "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal "One of his hands." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last Lee, in the county of Kent." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, "Do you receive much company?" he asked. outsides of the windows. "Then, as to money?" "Look there!" said he. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the without a word or a look. Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. "He said that you could solve anything." figure." "Ah!" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag "I will do it." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "This photograph!" out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable later, upon the night of May 2nd." "This concluded the examination of the witness." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first "Two days later this same performance was gone through under of this gang." swore that no one else had been in the front room during the the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "Yes, that is the Crown." jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I your Highness to the police-station?" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to call for it in person on Monday morning.' front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a