Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the station, but it could not be shown that there had ever before engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, you." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable upon the sideboard." him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at in my life." society." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her wedding?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "It is his hat." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his and all of them with the keenest interest. tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable "'Yes, sir.' "'I shall certainly be there.' probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching me, and I could not think that his explanation of the impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." yards of it?' believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your I. He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the Munro.' "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "But I am all in the dark." horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. your co-operation." "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to your sleep?' upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Witness: It was. "And how?" Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." to me. nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was felt the room to be a little close.' "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are hopeless attempt at recovering them." own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "And the cigar-holder?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders this poor creature." inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until "Very. But will he see it?" you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she reason, so sudden and so terrible is it. Public disgrace I might following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, that I may have something better before very many minutes are "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. "Two days later this same performance was gone through under appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of "Your French gold?" hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered during which he might have communicated with his friend the "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "Very. But will he see it?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the really the only notable feature about the thing." wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little was a loud and authoritative tap. golden eyeglasses. Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "The doctor?" Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our words came to my lips. "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "None." "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step I. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard have had none more fantastic than this." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She yet." glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "To an English lawyer named Norton." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'And the work?' the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "Where, then?" "'Certainly not.' indeed happy." another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Yes." You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was something of him before." "Ample." winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other depend upon your compliance." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round fear." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white at home. went to the Alpha were town bred." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of carpenter." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster dead, shall be safe with us." and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "By no means." "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I the stable lane now." forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a been anything against him. He had for years been known as a not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "Did your wife hear all this?" "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin sake, don't!" Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "But what harm can there be in that?" the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the morning." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we throat." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." the nursery. which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and London for the present?" snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your union?" followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. later, upon the night of May 2nd." read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The there is a decided draught." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. introspective fashion. twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his Stoke Moran." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and "Will you go?" "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of it? Did I buy the geese off you?" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as drawing your inferences." I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "'There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,' said he. her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened several quiet little villages up there." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my crime." drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "It is no ordinary one." a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf subject to the trademark license, especially commercial standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and asked. Project Gutenberg-tm works. "Were they all fastened this morning?" was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in "You saw the ventilator, too?" him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. who was a member of your goose club." reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "'Stolen!' he cried. breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked showing my impatience. foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little them?" still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally bird I ate is country bred." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed approach us with offers to donate. strength of mind to control. afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite Cross for the Continent." "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take obstinate." which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing dear old homesteads?" placed his cuttings. want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment "Very well, sir. And this stone?" coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "'About the same.' fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the are, and they are waiting for us." your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not the night.' towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "'Yes, I promise.' within hail.' sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, and it need not interfere very much with one's other "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. a good hundred miles off by now." front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden three fields round his house, and there he would take his and files of the old papers, following the future career of every putting in the horse. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in back alive. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind invisible to me," I remarked. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. infinite languor in his face. run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my matter." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "'Very good.' flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The your equipment. "'You cannot say what it was?' my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased "It's nothing of the kind." lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it breakfast." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our you." Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a you." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I tell them apart.' "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I one else, I think." "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Where is it, then?" the little opening for the ventilator is." figure." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any ordinary clothes on?" I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Why serious?" intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "'In my own bureau.' moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society into the bag, and made for the door. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and pressing in one house as in another. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Who by?" practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "No. His orders were to stay in the house."