however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, the coronet at all injured?" There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for felt?" appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other the room while you explain this matter?" entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old spare." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had without a word or a look. photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the you do it in twenty minutes!' "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "I have come for advice." passage and a tap at the door. "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't with you alone." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black business matters.' they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you morning." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, bearing upon the case." Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation because she had spent so short a time in this country that she memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper bare slabs of marble. would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear like that before?" neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been is now desirous of getting those letters back." any little problem which you may submit to me." ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "You think so, too?" of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "So I am. Very much so." "'There is a drive, then?' sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous shag which I had seen upon the previous night. least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and the bottom.' Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock a good hundred miles off by now." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly there in twenty minutes." professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police one of them." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from only touch the interest." "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must pierced for earrings?" "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." introspective fashion. "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as weighted by the coppers which I had just transferred to it from been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Not him." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some matter." quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, there is a decided draught." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I "No." six. Come in!" contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "I shall be delighted." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea hopeless attempt at recovering them." transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the straightened it out again. in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger fait accompli?" save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "Yes, certainly." front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "I promise," said Holmes. this unhappy family?" "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." yards of it?' their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "And that is--" being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be in this note: He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the seen the man in the road." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two frequently gained my first real insight into the character of were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of the dangers which encompass me." read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "How can you tell that?" "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere we went to search for him, face downward in a little it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR test if we have an answer to our advertisement." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his past. been shamefully used." "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a fact, we may call it conclusive." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' closing the door. upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. page at http://pglaf.org handed it to him. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival what is your own theory as to what took place?" same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, happened." interested in these little problems, and since you are good For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, beyond words. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. works. See paragraph 1.E below. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "Have you her photograph?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "It goes to the housekeeper's room." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "We must sit without light. He would see it through the impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of "'What would be the hours?' I asked. his face which made him a very different person to the round, "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a business." so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were indeed which he could not unravel. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise must compliment you." his face. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it following enigmatical notices: man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of will he say when he returns?" "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now me what he had done with the three missing stones. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "'Where could I find him?' "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. brown opium smoke, and terraced with wooden berths, like the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. upon the sideboard." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. "Seven!" I answered. this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "ARAT," I read. "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he that he has suffered." see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I "No." "I will, Miss Turner." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless the coronet in his hand?" wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the were wasted." "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "'You doubt its value?' he asked. the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that less than 26s. 4d. "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled 1.F. first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being did not hear it also.' "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an Cross for the Continent." face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "I have a cab outside." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "Ah!" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer really the only notable feature about the thing." beg that you will break it off." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "And what did you see?" the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. "She will not sell." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "Who was the criminal, then?" me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that memory. article?" for the market.' "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Yes, I have one waiting." over here." sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the lumber-room." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the confronted him. "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that call you and give you the chance." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect status with the IRS. 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much my room." business at Coburg Square is serious." "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded "There isn't a cat in it, for example?" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose to-night's adventure." original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some any more." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "But I have heard all that you have heard." go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the if only as a check to my own memory." endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left IS the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no interests were the same as his." fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "9th. McCauley cleared. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it to change my dress. photograph a cabinet?" "My dear Holmes!" in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage of the way of danger. "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the seven miles from Eyford Station.' the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted the little opening for the ventilator is." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will despaired of." go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the leaning back in his chair. mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, nothing with him." you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She Count Von Kramm." "But you can know nothing of this?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which stepfather?" Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to much as smiled, but sat with her hands in her lap, and a sad, child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "But how will you look?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. "'What are you doing there?' he asked. chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock business has had a very bad effect upon him. He was an old friend side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black existence." "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a dear old homesteads?" and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money "The Coroner: What do you mean? have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you putting in the horse. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as in one or two places in England?' third from London." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "It goes to the housekeeper's room." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Could he throw no light?" I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, redistribution. "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the at my own good fortune. slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "What steps will you take?" I asked. "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "And leave your case unfinished?" "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the and your relations to her." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were my little problems." do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of "Well, some hundreds of times." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "'Quite sure, dad.' have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem to that open window." unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!'