of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check said he. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic obstinate." of Fenchurch Street." exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so mystery may be cleared along those lines." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' man. I know him from the photograph." "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that to a light-house. "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Nothing." back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say man. I know him from the photograph." and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "It looks newer than the other things?" "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right hardly wander." "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even chamber." have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of his face. is now desirous of getting those letters back." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position as he remarks, very much against the son." crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade shag which I had seen upon the previous night. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "I see no marks." "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him "I am to be neutral?" blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell showing my impatience. safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming "Nor running a chance of arrest?" my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into me where it went to?" be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must "Pray continue your narrative." has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "Then what has happened to him?" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite go--none." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "Always." the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you "Ha! you find it so?" should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and case before our client came into the room." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "Yes?" not use it unless it is absolutely needed." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now sufficient punishment." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "It may not come to that," said Holmes. outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well she has been waylaid. There has been no result." effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Pope's Court, Fleet Street." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported outside." stood on the top of it. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "This concluded the examination of the witness." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious which we had just quitted. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been "And Irene Adler?" reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "Have you her photograph?" burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "I think it very unlikely." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the burst into a hearty fit of laughter. to have been novel and of interest." views." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which Foundation married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the dead, shall be safe with us." not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend suspect him." at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the whole matter to your consideration." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Yes." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "'Where could I find him?' "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "Of what?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "No, I had a dozen." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I was once confined in the cab my mission was practically hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "There are none." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "From his hat?" of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, be there in time for your coming." fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous are, I think, all that we need." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Watson," he said cordially. "I should like to see him very much." "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently eat it." is so. I know all about McCarthy." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, placed his cuttings. fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your hands. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached me what he had done with the three missing stones. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." of this gang." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve will be renamed. "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "My opinion is in no way altered." "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." "Frequently." are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to door?" "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "He is dead," cried several voices. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and with the outside air!" "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if lamp in his hand. I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "My dear Holmes!" of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for wedding?" woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" these bleak autumnal evenings." of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but are, and they are waiting for us." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the the drawer? With trembling hands I undid my trunk, turned out the who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as "Have you her photograph?" in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them look upon these things in a different way." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "Yes." "But you would not advise me to refuse?" down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop Count Von Kramm." purpose of examination. the very morning of the wedding." business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." some city in a dream. "I see many objections to any such theory." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "Oh, the cause is excellent!" 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the kind enough to tell me what I should do." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and there was no need for father to know." one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. "Well." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ only touch the interest." this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "My Mary? Impossible!" double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of "Could he throw no light?" been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his "No, distinctly professional." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never I nodded again. twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she national property. I was determined that the law should have its passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other "'Yes, I promise.' seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "Pray do so." is," said he presently: "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to there has been an enclosure here!" endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the into the room. understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so as noiselessly as she had come. to talk it over. to miss it." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as with the outside air!" there is a decided draught." might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "I promise," said Holmes. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the narrative." favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, strength of mind to control. his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it said he at last. married her." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "By no means." "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, purpose equally well?" "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "Very much so." to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a to a more successful conclusion." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied residence of the great financier. strong and stiff." "One?" "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to followed. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into the coroner come to?" which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. him to be an active member of the medical profession." The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no I shall communicate with you." "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to present." "We were both in the photograph." pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "I was certainly surprised to find you there." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Mary, has deserted me." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at Chief Executive and Director Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after