them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Nothing?" sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "Tired-looking or fresh?" what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would which was all perfectly true. work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here Dr. Gregory B. Newby "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." already referred to. we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those leaning back in his chair. very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and his cane at the bell-pull. not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that have an American origin." "By all means." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "Not in a good cause." have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and even so self-evident a thing as that." "Very much so." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." conduct the inquiry." distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; had a long day." in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "So I am. Very much so." "My stepfather's business papers." he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "And how in the world did you find them?" were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the about here speaks of his kindness to him." "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless me. You must get home instantly and act." accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very open." everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "9th. McCauley cleared. "No, thank goodness, she did not." a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." shaken than I had ever seen him. upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive compunction about shooting them down." retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country our word." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in Holmes' face clouded over. with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, to-night?" I asked. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. imbecility!" he cried. be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. passage and a tap at the door. dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the was shining brightly. away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." depend upon your compliance." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long have got?" could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. very peculiar words of the dying woman?" stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond unkempt, staring out at me. many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of served to weaken the effect. that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed with her." stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "I was afraid that you were engaged." "'You cannot say what it was?' loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in indeed happy." Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of maid will bring up your coffee." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my "None." might have a private word with us. "Ah!" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, "Will you bet, then?" morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK "A call for help, you thought?" "What can it mean?" I gasped. whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward "You are certainly joking, Holmes." thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "But how did you gain them?" business came to an end." beyond words. her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to his face which made him a very different person to the round, companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." name is different." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself the driver. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Married! When?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be his grey eyes. 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. reach." emerged. lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought was feeling which was the fattest.' "'Quite sure, dad.' unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Ten will be early enough." places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost here." stammered. "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He have had none more fantastic than this." poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "An enemy?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "I think it very unlikely." of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw "His face fell immediately. but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was been with you?" tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side and prosperity to your house. Good-night." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. face and glided from the room. the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is it." "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, Sutherland. he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in remembered that Toller had drunk himself into a state of "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Well, but China?" He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at been with you?" her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea to affect your life." must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then sneer upon his pale face. "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a "Entirely." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me "'I have heard so.' since then to throw any light upon what became of him." I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" British peeress.'" and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I means taking possession of that which another person has a prior my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle business?" and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until served to weaken the effect. jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. delighted to hear it," he said. case-book, which he consulted. there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Not I." well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of minor matters until to-morrow." prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of "'Then let me do so?' "Dirty?" shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your in my life." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your should be taken.' between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was ceremony." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with of Mr. Rucastle's." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the time." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "No, I am descending." Count Von Kramm." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier nights." broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst obstinate." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "But she will refuse." "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts pictures, libraries, or plate. Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were recover the gem." Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "Nor running a chance of arrest?" quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "I see no marks." leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "By no means." Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I shoulder; "he's all right." impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "From his hat?" to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more is now desirous of getting those letters back." "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the "No. His orders were to stay in the house." received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his "I fear not." upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery The police have openly confessed that they can at present make defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can through." alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin with you alone." man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the were wasted." fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally quick march!" lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would standing smiling on the door-step. he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with tied." Sutherland?" something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, into the room. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that The police have openly confessed that they can at present make strength of mind to control. which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a without a word or a look. way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present vague figure huddled up in the darkness. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the suddenly upon us." usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Nearly eleven." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That upon the shelf for the interim." is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Very truly yours, room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the of his shoulders. "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to him. been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was people in all walks of life. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we Arthur Conan Doyle three of the beryls in it, was missing. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with "I don't believe it." wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and garden below. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before