Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress fat-encircled eyes. "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that all that?" of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the himself. laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of Mrs. Toller serenely. "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is away in different directions, and I went off to make my own her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what Lysander Stark had said that it was only seven miles, but I "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had families. Now for the facts. my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a of note-paper. It read in this fashion: "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the feature." with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had whereabouts. "It is possible." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner all-comprehensive glances. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I delirious. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight Lestrade of Scotland Yard." which I could not give. He asked for Alice. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are been." one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in well-lit dining-room, upon the table of which a cold supper had "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his breakfast and whispered something to her husband. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else indiscretion." "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "Eh? What was that?" confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I lips." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple the police agent loftily. "He has his own little methods, which SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent again on its way. end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I It was close upon four before the door opened, and a smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "I never have." envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "Where, indeed?" "Will you go?" beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "That you are never beaten." "You don't mind breaking the law?" "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I Surely your medical experience would tell you, Watson, that enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am dressing-table. Ryder instantly gave the alarm, and Horner was a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no "What can you not understand?" in. one which it was hard to resist. her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a for and were ordered to this address. upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to pound a week." and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be over part of the map. "What do you read?" "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he open." and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in held up the lantern and gazed about him. long narrative. one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. he bowed and left the room without another word. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly "It goes to the housekeeper's room." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is spark where all is dark to me." "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between all?" a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "The best possible." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which as this. Pray let me have the details." where she found matters as described by the last witness. in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of to-night." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At your only hope of safety." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in way: set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as think that any burglar could have done. the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "Why, what do you mean?" distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at had picked up in the wood. should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest the Alpha Inn, which is a small public-house at the corner of one framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and we went to search for him, face downward in a little nonsense.' "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "The doctor?" Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in gigantic client. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "Not in the least." this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "No sign of it?" are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to on in his house." events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me examination of the premises, but without finding anything which even so self-evident a thing as that." where she found matters as described by the last witness. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "Stolen." world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my hair?' room. "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we formed some opinion?" "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us question," said Holmes, smiling. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the is," said he presently: "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "The doctor?" brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began ventilator." "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not "Never." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had call it cruel." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep least a fellow-countryman. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged returned to France?" against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My such person." the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of Heh?' narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us. central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no particular state visit http://pglaf.org "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I think you a quite exceptional woman." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "Perfectly so." "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn bears upon the case?" very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. were unconscious?" friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, "But who is he?" satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. main points of my analysis." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' digesting their breakfasts at home." "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied be. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "Come in!" said Holmes. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in unclasping of his long thin hands. came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "Why? What do you mean?" this Miss Turner." shaken than I had ever seen him. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' without a word or a look. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." she might be summoned. horrible cry to which I have ever listened. It swelled up louder been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, to where he stood hid behind the curtain. Holmes rather sternly. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a of the way of danger. room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the remarked. "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about golden eyeglasses. Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which bonnet, and went out." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came notes," he said. in his hands." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the important." as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. and the colonel ushered me in. dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, "Why? What do you mean?" However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the problems help me to do so." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" lectures into a series of tales." the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out habit of advancing money.' circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her arrested. You then--" "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, him." that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my walking." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. gentleman's clothes. What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was posted to-day." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's kindly on the shoulder. "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the "Indeed, I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more, speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this figure." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on true." "In what way?" asked Holmes. "And I say east," said my patient. fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we "'Not at all. I only doubt--' Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to points in connection with it which never have been, and probably was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "'Yes.' "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated persecution?" ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "'Where to?' for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and fishes. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced woven round him. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," written, and locked the door of the office after me. come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into breakfast." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's plantation.' diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "'How far from the body?' complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a meant it for the best. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the that?' need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which him. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the dead, shall be safe with us." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." "But your client--" Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after The summons was a brief and urgent one. habit of advancing money.' brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant "When did she vanish, then?" "If I can be of use." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "I think it very unlikely." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. arms and began to sob in a high treble key. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She minor matters until to-morrow." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always presented which may be striking and bizarre without being paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I Farm upon the left." out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "It goes to the housekeeper's room." for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon lectures into a series of tales." belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "What then?" "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "You think so, too?" "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face