is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "'Ample.' understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in the Red-headed League." "Ah, but I was recommended to you." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "I am in hopes that she does." but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some sound at heart." "Never to return." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Heh?' in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend entirely devoid of interest." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass be. you in yours." to change my dress. retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "Who by?" "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Yes, they were peculiar boots." back alive. "And how have you succeeded?" opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "I cannot say that I have." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "It missed him, then?" number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel desk. John Swain, of St. Augustine. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a who was a member of your goose club." "ARAT," I read. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door God! What an exposure! What can I do?" walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ so.' from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying may never be exposed to such a temptation." stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, the child." Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, "When did she vanish, then?" "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself some place of shelter and let the county police know what has There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. from you?" this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no to you." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly acquaintance?" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to letters?" Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may electronic works the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very in a friendly supper." wayward, and, to speak the truth, I could not trust him in the I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "You have the photograph?" before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I used to be." are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not absorbing." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. "Just look it up, then." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." definite end. in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. forehead. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." one of them." As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her newspaper selections." from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw is now desirous of getting those letters back." "'And what are they worth?' I asked. he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "You are all wrong." face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for if she died from some sudden fright." the inner apartment." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "'Well,' said I, 'the gentleman at No. 4.' took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once have accepted such a situation. it means?" of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "None." he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to key turn in the lock." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned question. laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate that threaten you." While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "Witness: Nothing definite. "There is the writing." "And what did you see?" very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your orange pips. while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "What steps will you take?" I asked. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and later, upon the night of May 2nd." back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face things are very often connected not with the larger but with the unprecedented a position." through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "'I shall certainly be there.' unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent hereditary King of Bohemia." I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. my former friend and companion. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the if she died from some sudden fright." believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Very murderous indeed." freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest questioning and rather startled gaze. from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not long narrative. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he it with his own hands." was the fact that his father should, according to his account, professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "Look there!" said he. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid discontent upon his features. de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "No bad?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "One of the highest in England." stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent forecastle of an emigrant ship. learned something! Where are the gems?" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a out." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "An enemy?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "How many? I don't know." the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. and laid it on the table. workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! said Mr. Holder. of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had there when the Rucastles went away." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two there has been an enclosure here!" while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is James Windibank. Voilà tout!" freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "You think that he is dead?" "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "What is it?" that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "What do you make of that, Watson?" Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now ways including including checks, online payments and credit card adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "I say that I have solved it." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and chill to my heart. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently Does that suggest anything?" "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have distinguish the words: was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the fear." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered me where it went to?" "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring the window, rose as we entered. "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." "And what then?" Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an long narrative. prepare for the new role I have to play." past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "No, thank goodness, she did not." perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she "And why?" is worth.' girl said." "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, all?" from the brougham. in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "I am armed." what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! black linen bag with him through the door. Recently he has been electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to You want to know what became of those geese?" hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be events, Mr. Windibank!" word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "It is very kind of you." very old mansion. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him tear off another piece?' address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have to where he stood hid behind the curtain. whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, directors, with the result that you have seen." "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "His face fell immediately. "'What then?' I asked. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to towards the blaze. "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon I was concerned in it." Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well Count Von Kramm." at once, for I have only half an hour." isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the relief. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day "But how could you guess what the motive was?" word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." that I am arrested." Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. bedroom door." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I directors have had misgivings upon the subject." through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "In heaven's name, what for?" weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind do.' "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott "Which are?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were this as likely?" of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for maid will bring up your coffee." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." him nearly every evening." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new both be extremely obliged.' conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now said I. "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her key turn in the lock." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as "Yes, it would be as well." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." indiscretion." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed other, as fresh and trim as possible. extraordinary contortions. and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me "Then, what clue could you have as to his identity?" been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is speckled band?" stepfather?" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "Then I can wait in the next room." vanished into the darkness. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then