past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two chamber." "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil carpenter." "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the in water. "There," said he, putting a new wedding-ring upon the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "Bought." "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Yes." and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could upon an income of about 60 pounds." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send we went to search for him, face downward in a little "We must have a cab." "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible "Awake, Watson?" he asked. "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being "And now?" He raised his hand. companion imperturbably. this as likely?" from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. entirely devoid of interest." for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the several quiet little villages up there." I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" acquaintance?" two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we "No, thank goodness, she did not." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Then you may be so with me." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under God! What an exposure! What can I do?" line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. as he folded up the epistle. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about "So it appears." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my was a lad." The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it which should have the effect of calling the attention of the quiet and innocent one. There the matter stands at present, and again on its way. cheerful." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would writing, and yet I know it well." "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second this man was intellectual?" "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look Pope's Court. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and "Perfectly so." air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Look there!" said he. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "'You doubt its value?' he asked. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the to-night?" I asked. Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but stepfather?" 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, me, and I could not think that his explanation of the but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do bird of prey. married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. but preventing her from injuring another. time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight the front of the trap, his arms folded, his hat pulled down over what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very intimate personal affairs in this public manner." opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some forecastle of an emigrant ship. "I see no marks." his face which made him a very different person to the round, given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the my two companions. Ferguson appeared to be a morose and silent might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me not use it unless it is absolutely needed." has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing on in his house." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking there when the Rucastles went away." from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See "'Stolen!' he cried. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my do." "Never." Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations weary and pale-looking. you." attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at believe that I should never have any practice at all. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while "Stolen." up this clue while it is still hot." be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this "Yes." him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" this poor creature." "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain the inquest, and which are worth considering." brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "I assure you that I am in your hands." that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There showing my impatience. "And Irene Adler?" telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had me have 200 pounds?' his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, not come at once?" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "How did you trace it, then?" It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "I think it very unlikely." the man of whom I had heard. He appeared to be in a "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high and a shock of very red hair. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Upon what point?" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. purpose equally well?" McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were into the bag, and made for the door. my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have is acting for the best. myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a you, my dear young lady?' that you saw all that I did." whatever might befall. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier corner of the building. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the said he, "my real name is James Ryder." that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much it." "'Which dealer's?' so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "He is still with you, I presume?" meant." bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with highroad, where all traces were lost. opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too and laid it on the table. I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "The landlord of the Alpha." air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "How are you getting on?" Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "By train from Waterloo." Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your for the market.' eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Which surely he restored to their owner?" heavy and sharp instrument." step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag have an American origin." put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank "My dear Holmes!" Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am populous neighbourhood." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little "That is it on the dressing-table." very old mansion. brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many to some other building. column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks know all about it," he snarled. dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated me have 200 pounds?' "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not of fine shops and stately business premises that they really little trying to do so much typewriting?" "No legal papers or certificates?" Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round to-night?" I asked. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and golden eyeglasses. have not had my rubber." life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to characteristics, but those are the more obvious." room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, furiously. The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they been." He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right back to my heart. thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." be there in time for your coming." "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "You did not overhear what they said?" International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Always." happened." gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needle-work foresight and the moral retrogression?" yards of it?' reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "'Tell me all about it,' said I. to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar this truth that in these little records of our cases which you usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, respectable self." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor "Well." sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal the night.' said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated "I should wish to." "By no means." Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very minor matters until to-morrow." hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but best detective that ever lived. lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters "'Certainly not. But why?' the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. begun to whiten, even as mine has." Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." Farm upon the left." public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is photograph a cabinet?" it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "How did that help you?" "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it went to the Alpha were town bred." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "My dear Holmes!" We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear round with crates and massive boxes. have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His will be renamed. "And how?" woven round him. which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That "It goes to the housekeeper's room." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. fuss that is made over them." unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell south, for the country is more deserted there." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at "A thing like a cleaver," said he. as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "'I am sure that I do not know.' a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said amused." to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "What have you to say now?" his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "When did it break out?" I held the little printed slip to the light. in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us unprecedented a position." and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny hour." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and you." "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither "It surprised me." The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "'Entirely.' because she had spent so short a time in this country that she "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "No?" peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very relief. "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." direction." of a light. Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She in a friendly supper." attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could such person." which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "But how could you guess what the motive was?" name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey nights." "But his lameness?" rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for "Certainly, madam." "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of transparent, and it was a very bad compliment when you said that I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of strange features which were associated with the two crimes which The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in some terrible trap for her." in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "But of what society?" doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we