Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a "'How far from the body?' and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which tear off another piece?' not personally threatened." the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, Street. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, unapproachable from that side. Now, would you have the kindness with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that chamber." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, "The Cedars?" c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Yes." Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "But what is it you wish?" photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle "And how in the world did you find them?" forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and mystery." "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "But we can't all be." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just fait accompli?" that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police "What can it mean?" I gasped. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it excitement. learned something! Where are the gems?" drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then at once, for I have only half an hour." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the conduct the inquiry." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you "Pray do so." before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "To ruin me." elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for have been better. It is all right." hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and about here speaks of his kindness to him." frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, extraordinary contortions. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "Really! You surprise me." "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "Deserted you?" "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a matters immensely." "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "I answered that I had not. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his recover the gem." "It was." became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done breakfast and whispered something to her husband. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted entirely lost his self-respect." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a astonishment. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "And Miss Sutherland?" keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time him." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come woman." here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the "But how?" are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle Leave Paddington by the 11:15." habit of advancing money.' quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose foresight and the moral retrogression?" money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; this unhappy family?" "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. "Nothing." for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To works. Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being and prosperity to your house. Good-night." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she prove to be little relation between the different incidents of you want, then?' vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." "I was sure that I might rely on you." 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond allusion to a rat. lost nothing by them." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was away into the river." asked. The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of one's self under obligations.' impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go have got?" never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of you came in." "Dark enough and sinister enough." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you in him." "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of you." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you believe that I should never have any practice at all. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural gives a meaning to it." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you bedroom door." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Indeed? I know some of them. Which was it?" play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such the little opening for the ventilator is." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be copied or distributed: time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry could go. not, dad?" she asked. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "'Oh, no.' have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the night.' said he. a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers know what is wrong with it.' in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I not as remarkable as your advertisement." unprecedented a position." "And the cigar-holder?" fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the certainly not very gracious." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had a suggestive one." by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your some city in a dream. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. "Yes, I have one waiting." "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" strange features which were associated with the two crimes which prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much affair. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our letters?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it becomes even more simple." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "I am to be neutral?" "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning "I have solved it." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Her father is very rich?" dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "To an English lawyer named Norton." which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small your equipment. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor "You were travelling in the States?" "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that examination of the premises, but without finding anything which once more to my work. the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "My photograph." "She walked into the breakfast-room." would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing room. temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty too. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left money should be paid at once.' conceal it?" the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "I promise," said Holmes. laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an chamber." foot. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me "Witness: I must still refuse. which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the enter Dr. Roylott's room." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" derbies." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Where, indeed?" "Have you a couple of days to spare? Have just been wired for from "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young "And you thought he was pulled back?" remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and empty. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending yourselves in at night?" ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be with you?" "Game for a morning drive?" 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, have been better. It is all right." opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "I shall be delighted." time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with beyond words. "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can written, and locked the door of the office after me. I was concerned in it." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "'I am sure that I do not know.' woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible is now desirous of getting those letters back." to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "'Why, what on earth does this mean, John?' he stammered. purpose equally well?" the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "'Most admirably.' been able to understand it, in a very few words. your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the "Why did you pick him?" my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window "I know where it is." front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "It is possible." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual "And your father? Did you tell him?" continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes get the tickets." have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Has he come with you to-night?" tapping his fingers upon the table. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "And how did you verify them?" "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so locked." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "This concluded the examination of the witness." man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "I don't believe it." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled 1.F. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black direction." "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer "Here?" "'What do you call purely nominal?' Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," Heh?' wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "Ten will be early enough." "Well." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you mystery!" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case very old mansion. of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms your sleep?' feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, "In what way?" asked Holmes. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the "Ten will be early enough." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "This concluded the examination of the witness." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is little adventures."