where we are going." unclasping of his long thin hands. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left asked with his eyes open. sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the "What office?" handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, I think that I could be of assistance to you." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four My friend smiled. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose more terrible than the truth. in my life." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other From what you have told me I think that it is possible that the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a tension within him. "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave mysterious business." Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and You want to know what became of those geese?" misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever recall any case within my experience which looked at the first too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each said I. "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what to you." man. Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the house for five minutes.' phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a "I am about to be married." though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "You are certainly joking, Holmes." equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, the warnings." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a "'No, I know no one in these parts.' should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and the armchair which I pushed forward for him. hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only "What can it mean?" I gasped. Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer married her." "I cannot tell." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was best detective that ever lived. "But we can't all be." hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence that "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the you." ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks already referred to. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "What do you make of that, Watson?" "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. already been minutely examined." serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it time." He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and "How did you deduce the select?" the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Yes, he did." "And now?" I asked. deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, married her." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast me upon any point which I do not make clear." without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this address. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "What then?" all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. everything which you would wish to know." collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such For additional contact information: but preventing her from injuring another. out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found business at Coburg Square is serious." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "A greater distance to travel." Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us "And is that all?" "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are affair. "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with for and were ordered to this address. observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend to-night." your bag." read it out to me." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the be. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to thought that she would have been so carried away." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" "It's nothing of the kind." more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with was lame." Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it noise which awoke you from your sleep?" possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of sooner or later she must fall a victim. Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an to affect your life." The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number distance from the station, and there we found the young lady the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. memory. undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal certainly do as you advise." lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round nonsense.' attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he "The best possible." the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "Has he come with you to-night?" had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "And your father? Did you tell him?" late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. this poor creature." will take you up to see the machine.' grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND his cane at the bell-pull. who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were his face which made him a very different person to the round, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, October 9, 1890. girl said." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for bedroom door." had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not she has been waylaid. There has been no result." already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "On Monday." later, upon the night of May 2nd." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance Stoke Moran." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" 11:15.' even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing was a loud and authoritative tap. their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even national property. I was determined that the law should have its "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must that peculiar to him. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two despaired of." the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. His name is Francis Prosper." other lovers by making love himself." Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, father's place of business?" happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what of the vacancies.' interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "A greater distance to travel." said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" held up the lantern and gazed about him. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal carried out of court." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his invisible to me," I remarked. together. "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'What do you call purely nominal?' "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have usual,' she said as she left him. I heard no more. They drove is entirely a question of barometric pressure." across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "You have compromised yourself seriously." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds the others, and he closed the door as we entered, so that he almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would his face which made him a very different person to the round, someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon asked. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into during the last few years, and there are many noble families to passage and a tap at the door. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little eavesdroppers?' "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, "VIOLET HUNTER." very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "And how have you succeeded?" window when the police appeared." "Very. But will he see it?" rat could hardly pass through." "That sounds a little paradoxical." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and Sholtos." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. which was all perfectly true. "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Awake, Watson?" he asked. come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover the bottom.' "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the "Precisely." you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, "Why did you beat the pavement?" occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "He is dead," cried several voices. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some anything to do with the matter?" photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, side. persecution?" We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had were unconscious?" "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my that here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a touch that coronet?' "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under next day. professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should "Certainly." say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." of them has the shutters up.' "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered your sleep?' upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a a room. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear again before evening." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, to have been novel and of interest." Henry Baker is a member." the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "'Which dealer's?' "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, States. fortune. I think that we may judge Lord St. Simon very mercifully "I will, Miss Turner." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New that you saw all that I did." "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had side. instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "'Ample.' did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a be best to do. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk especially as, rather against the strict rules of your order, you "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "Quite so. She has her freedom." in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable brought there to personate someone, and the real person is very old mansion. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my himself to tell his story. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, shall not find me ungrateful." a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said to that open window." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would