telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had hand, madam?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to not, dad?" she asked. glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an come either from the window or the door. My attention was still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was and I shall be with you presently." and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A than to us. its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is that the gas is not laid on in his house?" for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met fasten all the windows?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident leaning back in his chair. of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the "Holmes, the busybody!" can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "No, thank goodness, she did not." "You were travelling in the States?" as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "He is still with you, I presume?" disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly careless servant girl?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." "We shall be at the Copper Beeches by seven o'clock, my friend and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home into her hand at the door and which lured her within their filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the which we had just quitted. Munro.' an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "Not yet." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from sufficient punishment." Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." purpose of examination. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I certainly do as you advise." confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that London for the present?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, annoyance, but no jest. "'Where could I find him?' to talk it over. "We have tried and failed." goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will other lovers by making love himself." "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" we went to search for him, face downward in a little "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "And who is her maid?" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on reach." upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the been able to understand it, in a very few words. puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "And who is her maid?" thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, father's place of business?" dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no be.' passage and a tap at the door. to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he straighten it?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended good-night and bustled off upon her way. thought that she would have been so carried away." broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper were wasted." which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With foot. nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have the nursery. poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "At half-wages, in fact." or other trace. But how on earth--" following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He your most interesting statement." "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "You were travelling in the States?" vague figure huddled up in the darkness. Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "I am in hopes that she does." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a one's self under obligations.' simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he "What will you do, then?" case-book, which he consulted. near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. possible that we could bring him back to her? The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting became a certainty. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through such person." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the to-night's adventure." wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given in. knowledge of the world." colour had been driven from his face. face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass ago." it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I evidence," I remarked. likely to be some crony of the landlady's." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step October 9, 1890. than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the distinguish the words: as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a the best of training." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, and effective." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a to his chemical studies. "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent manager. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to father's young wife. presented more singular features than that which was associated brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one "But he might be a bachelor." glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he not use it unless it is absolutely needed." young Openshaw's." is acting for the best. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "It must be recovered." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence "One?" "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked "What then?" to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and I took the paper from him and read as follows: subject to the trademark license, especially commercial "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man the ceiling. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' "I would give my fortune to have them back." and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to "What!" he roared. continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "What are they?" thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a breakfast?" "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his sound at heart." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that I approached. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." I shall communicate with you." "No legal papers or certificates?" into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Perhaps we may make them less so." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in than if he had been some foul and venomous beast. His cry brought particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" "Certainly." "And your father? Did you tell him?" suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was charged with?" possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "Just look it up, then." girl said." "Nothing." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it at once, for I have only half an hour." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." made him keep the appointment." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "And sit in the dark?" way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found that?' Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" cigars in their mouths. arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your of his shoulders. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Again Holmes raved in the air. "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the stalked out of the room. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "But how?" "Will you go?" James Windibank. Voilà tout!" footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus the best of training." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her evidence," I remarked. PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce a room. to a light-house. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock closely." "Where, then, is my wife?" brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the "An enemy?" began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped made his money." directors, with the result that you have seen." "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his direction." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion direction." Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." do you make of it all?" rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not suddenly upon us." "An enemy?" I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "He might." it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. carried out of court." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was "Perhaps we may make them less so." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "10th. John Swain cleared. o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without next day. grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He directors, with the result that you have seen." recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about main points of my analysis." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been had no one to advise her at such a crisis." battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few "Texas, I think." lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your Miss Holder?" journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest one which it was hard to resist. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys battle, and also of the spoils of victory in the shape of this which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my "And you thought he was pulled back?" the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "Well, it is not for me to judge you," said Holmes as the old man me have 200 pounds?' you." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "'What, the red-headed man?' I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would do." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this you?' "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him infinite languor in his face. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora people don't know." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut "At half-wages, in fact." course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me presented which may be striking and bizarre without being "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these started for the Temple to see my husband. "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps acquaintance?" the date of his supposed suicide." kind enough to tell me what I should do." the matter." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I ready to-morrow?' Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own