1.F. "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a security.' vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten other, as fresh and trim as possible. dead, shall be safe with us." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It "If I can be of use." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others mystery may be cleared along those lines." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was attempt to secure the photograph at once; but the coachman had and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "And how?" "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "I am following you closely," I answered. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "I came to find a friend." fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of key of the affair now." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his manager. grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime tell him that I know him to be innocent." such person." be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. to tackle the facts." 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a gentleman's clothes. through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "How did you deduce the select?" "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy trifles." detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate over his head with a sweet womanly caress. Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Game for a morning drive?" his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Yes, they were peculiar boots." there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "How are you getting on?" chambers. hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive away into the river." Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is becomes even more simple." work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was call for protection in the marriage market, for the present are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the dear old homesteads?" very old mansion. Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He had formerly been in part my own. sit on the left-hand side of the driver." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. "No, I had a dozen." "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "'I am sure if I had known--' opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, disturbance in my wife." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "I see no marks." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock prove it," returned Holmes, going back to the mat to knock the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said Gutenberg-tm License. was not a bird to be seen there. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving and a shock of very red hair. "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his points to suicide?" first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "And I to find an enemy." letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Whose house is it?" down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." see a sister of mine apply for." looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were might have a private word with us. "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." chair. "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." disappearance of the bride.'" even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Yes, I have one waiting." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Pray tell us what has happened to you." extraordinary contortions. me." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." married her." "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "The best possible." would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "It was." without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "Of what?" "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into upon the sideboard." direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, "BALLARAT." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now he said. "If you can catch the man, catch him, and let me know yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the Ned in Auckland. It is in New Zealand stock, paying 4 1/2 per at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of laugh and put his lips to my ear. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "Nor running a chance of arrest?" think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "Game for a morning drive?" age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "'I shall certainly be there.' this poor creature." "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a tapping his fingers upon the table. "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "A greater distance to travel." But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in "No, I think that I'll take it." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It I approached. ashen face. "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "What?" of the vacancies.' of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning to change my dress. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I "That's no good." the loss of it. "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, must compliment you." important." believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant taking in every detail of the apartment. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had nights." at a side door. "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. at my remark. "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "I cannot as yet see any connection." "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered Stoke Moran." "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable relief. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "You are certainly joking, Holmes." jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the footfalls from the street. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue or in danger--" matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf bachelor.' paper in the air. the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you the matter." rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with http://gutenberg.net/license). and the whole place is in a blaze." America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but formed some opinion?" chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The purpose of examination. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." "Who by?" and files of the old papers, following the future career of every in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of over here." in a friendly supper." which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" ordinary clothes on?" any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" it." hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure waste of energy." tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon singular points about the case. What did the police think of the "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Project Gutenberg-tm works. by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from generous with you in money matters.' realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to there in twenty minutes." livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed new acquaintance to Baker Street. in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went electronic works lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. success. all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if you, my dear young lady?' the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross "What I expected to see." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible over with notes and figures. eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "An accident, I presume?" stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his "My private note-paper." Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive his grey eyes. to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began brought there to personate someone, and the real person is knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a and the church but not where the lady lived." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me affair. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that business." There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited of Mr. Rucastle's." a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just chance." "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to night.' said he. said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money strange features which were associated with the two crimes which of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the did not hear it also.' and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "Do you know him?" We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a forecastle of an emigrant ship. photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard was not a bird to be seen there. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Yes, they were peculiar boots." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I light and attacked it." "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the approach us with offers to donate. "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp of them has the shutters up.' of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Yes, all." its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, The telegram which we eventually received came late one night "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "That is also quite modern," said the lady. shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Very truly yours, Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was "It missed him, then?" with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind you for a few hours?" and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning coroner's jury." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve your room." opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its bonnet, and went out." fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "What office?" "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything be sorry for having acted so harshly." already referred to. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, security.' waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The floating about. In spite of the attempts of the friends to hush Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which visitors." should be so warm over such a trifle." chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just said I. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left