"'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." "No." providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like row." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Certainly, madam." "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way have I gained?" "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' "Seven!" I answered. "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two are, I think, all that we need." distinguish the words: is acting for the best. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "What?" 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "Ha! you find it so?" Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining on in his house." the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some said Mr. Holder. any." reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall and prosperity to your house. Good-night." twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few straightened it out again. the devil!" anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of wedding?" returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and late!' gives a meaning to it." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had before, for it was considerably after midnight. "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "Pray do so." "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Upon what point?" my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Very truly yours, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel ourselves in the office." "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of the house with me." you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and brandy and water within his reach. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "I am following you closely," I answered. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be present strange and interesting features that it is no easy just ask you whether you had heard it.' emerged. year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang wife's character?" the night.' yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We Street. which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to peculiar to him. excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the points to suicide?" Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally Lestrade of Scotland Yard." system of imprisonment?" January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both in his hands." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had bearing upon the case." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, little trying to do so much typewriting?" Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "My dear Holmes!" had no one to advise her at such a crisis." his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very "My dear Holmes!" "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time six. Come in!" A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Yes." matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found you in your example." "Not in the least." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a down in his armchair and closing his eyes. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid should be so warm over such a trifle." fled together." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I such person." a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father "Witness: Nothing definite. "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must attention." laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is "9th. McCauley cleared. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean cigars in their mouths. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we directly by questioning you." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "And when will you call?" are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' and put his glass in his pocket. any more." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had for the market.' "No, finished." "How do you know, then?" trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at companion. follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." been." shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned place, I think that there is good ground to think that the "And who is her maid?" three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he that I may have something better before very many minutes are young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was maiden herself was most instructive." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "How did you trace it, then?" "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, she has been waylaid. There has been no result." you?' to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were "'And what are they worth?' I asked. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her least a most suspicious remark." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink garden below. out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "Very. But will he see it?" man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was friends, not even his own brother. "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "My opinion is in no way altered." time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone copied or distributed: particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two nice household for a young lady." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at of the efforts of the United States government and of the better some city in a dream. excitement. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and "Did your wife hear all this?" the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "None." very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Where did you address your letters, then?" I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which What do you deduce from it?" have not had my rubber." face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between always that they were such commands as a lady might with my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the with some details as to your case." found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the invisible to me," I remarked. body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly lips." not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a "What have you done?" asked Holmes. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; companion imperturbably. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each attention." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a "Married! When?" circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Certainly, madam." little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life Holmes' room. wanted for ourselves." zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that unprofitable." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have fat-encircled eyes. in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a "'And what salary do you ask?' hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the breakfast?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "Proceed, then." weighed down with some great anxiety. indeed happy." running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead unkempt, staring out at me. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a "Stolen, then." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "He slept on the premises." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by dates and names. have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows "The gentleman I describe." there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" eavesdroppers?' memory. "I shall be delighted." of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a mystery may be cleared along those lines." "I came to find a friend." attention." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his his fortune, and I went back to pa. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "It is possible." unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the again on its way. window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the searched, without anything being found which could incriminate find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "But who is he?" against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to "I am all attention, madam." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of examine." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "Always." and the colonel ushered me in. somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I gone. the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now closing the door. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the and prosperity to your house. Good-night." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." of them has the shutters up.' the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were politicians who had been sent down from the North. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a the address that was given us in the advertisement. last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and fluttered off among the others. "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing eavesdroppers?' likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, there." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which I am not easy in my mind about them." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. me upon any point which I do not make clear." *** START: FULL LICENSE *** after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could look upon these things in a different way." is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have business came to an end." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It one which it was hard to resist. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you morning." turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." "And the cigar-holder?" looking up at the numbers of the houses." like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view were new raised from a basin. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my Watson," he said cordially. have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Where did you address your letters, then?" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." nonsense.' enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to was it brought him the coronet? "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however,