confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "Precisely." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! spark where all is dark to me." firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary nothing of it?" Stoke Moran." all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure have an American origin." "Yesterday." in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that triumphant cloud from his cigarette. endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper only touch the interest." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. before the coroner and the police-court." this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished tail." "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "What! Had he lost his wife?" that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my certainly do as you advise." "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "'I have heard so.' "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing dead, shall be safe with us." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "But his lameness?" an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and think, you have already met." Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it "Have you her photograph?" work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and must be when I saw the door open.' experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort again, where I was soon asleep. every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain trying to your nerves." taking in every detail of the apartment. Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm ceremony." soul! here is her carriage at the door." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. beg that you will break it off." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. the child." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "Yes, I have one waiting." interest. They are important, you understand, without being said he. the bed, and you in that chair." during that time.' vague figure huddled up in the darkness. but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "The doctor?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told like that before?" he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who do you make of it all?" did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had voice. of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at the devil!" my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to good-night and bustled off upon her way. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I existence." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "She will not sell." pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "Yes." springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Yes." believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the From what you have told me I think that it is possible that girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. train from Paddington which would bring you there at about erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already McCarthy." that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge received a telegram upon this same Monday, very shortly after his heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know not interfere, come what may. You understand?" central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something redistribution. you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "9th. McCauley cleared. on in his house." "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who to-night's adventure." charge against him will break down." "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Your French gold?" of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "I am armed." eat it." strong and stiff." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of this as likely?" heavily into it. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be me. You must get home instantly and act." Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in advice." as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can fatally injured? - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a him. St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "What do you mean?" impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had cause to be." little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg soul! here is her carriage at the door." I think that I could be of assistance to you." from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is again, where I was soon asleep. "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, the coroner come to?" my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "At what time?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. correct than the official force." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" himself to hunt down. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so ceremony." "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little business matters.' beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. out." "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then I leave." abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email Have you good authority for what you say?" moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones that the gas is not laid on in his house?" You want to know what became of those geese?" "Why did you beat the pavement?" "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, footfalls from the street. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder in his power. carriage. It was a chestnut." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front my little problems." Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each ran thus: "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I empty. yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be "Which are?" ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for arrangements." it means?" weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "Her father is very rich?" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. she to prove their authenticity?" Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have strode off upon his way. states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had sneer upon his pale face. wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very official police." clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some His smile broadened. attention." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a simple cases which are so extremely difficult." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes go back?" him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "I have solved it." black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis jewels which you have stolen?' think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and flock.' size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can perplexity from it to my illustrious client. object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else legal crime." written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings I think that I could be of assistance to you." her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me affection." from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "It is to him that this trophy belongs." address. "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for which it had come upon my father." her also." as he remarks, very much against the son." caved in, a picture of ruin. The central portion was in little friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close be there in time for your coming." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. envelope. to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Yes, they were peculiar boots." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching beyond words. 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are someone who had been in Australia." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to the ceiling. boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the vague figure huddled up in the darkness. stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; you, my dear young lady?' appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had Pope's Court. o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side You can understand that this register and diary may implicate "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out disturbance in my wife." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only a little more before I quite committed myself. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the in his hands." charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." and inquire as to the address." "Have you it here?" minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and empty. "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "On the contrary, this is the right side." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace useful material for showing traces. The double line a little seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under there were one or two details which were new to me. But the that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." to have that photograph." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." lime-cream, are all to be gathered from a close examination of the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the "Ah!" is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was "Indeed! Whose, then?" to change my dress. and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they which should have the effect of calling the attention of the computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at man, with his jaw resting upon his two fists, and his elbows upon c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another occupations.' "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "When did she vanish, then?" When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The memory. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for been." of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last had formerly been in part my own. shoulder; "he's all right." believe that I should never have any practice at all. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or back into the street. "Which are?" often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to them?" "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable "My private note-paper." elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "You think so, too?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the an introduction to him?" and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we the coroner come to?" sleepers, holding my breath to keep out the vile, stupefying him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged "'Never,' said I. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as business came to an end." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "No, I had a dozen." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "Stolen, then." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of sound at heart." His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and I nodded again. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the not fit the lock." over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the "But you would not advise me to refuse?" bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across other means.' "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You