exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, good for you to do.' dear old homesteads?" of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right became a certainty. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "That is easily got." still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" For additional contact information: years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Why, it's a dummy," said he. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' with the outside air!" making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the know what is wrong with it.' hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Yes." crime." prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in investigation." photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining "That is not always so easy." central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he have had none more fantastic than this." he died? key turn in the lock." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "I cannot imagine." would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did fire. You quite follow me?" was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked one of the states of the Union." "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To all that?" "Yes, from Horsham." glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that been shamefully used." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name dead, shall be safe with us." caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found appointment with me for six o'clock?" the Friday. Was it to be in church?" that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of "An accident, I presume?" "I cannot tell." the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my Pope's Court. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself will be renamed. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy was it brought him the coronet? said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to asked. "But to whom?" to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." Holmes' room. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end frequently gained my first real insight into the character of voice, changing her seat as requested. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." done what I asked you, Jones?" life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, the stones. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "Yes." from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was me. You must get home instantly and act." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the existence." correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the "I have solved it." chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which woman." he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite http://www.gutenberg.net gone before you can get him to hospital." fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have affair. whether it answered to the description of any of their used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came the one as in the other." so far?" individual and becomes the badge of a society." the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "He is still with you, I presume?" copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I "'Is purely nominal.' every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone "The murder was done with it." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Whose house is it?" quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "I shall be delighted." the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "I will do it." and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice prepare for the new role I have to play." year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to imbecility!" he cried. ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on bedroom door." "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole nothing of it?" sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, yourselves in at night?" was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, was a perfect sample of the class. It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "Ha! you find it so?" truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter questionable one." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the "My name, sir; but you have the advantage of me," said my the dangers which encompass me." would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very cigars in their mouths. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, listen to another man. As far as the church door he brought her, "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your to Leatherhead. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "You will not go there first?" Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, putting in the horse. at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled for its centre. quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. my secret was safe in his possession. Holmes' face clouded over. "Nearly eleven." glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Really! You surprise me." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our to go into your room and bar your shutters?" case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "I think it very unlikely." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile lids now and glanced across at his visitor. you?" an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would too. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her "How long did she speak to this Alice?" He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Was the window open?" "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement my secret was safe in his possession. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came disturbance in my wife." "My photograph." what is your own theory as to what took place?" "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very came back again, and Mr. Hosmer Angel could not come to the house him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive gone. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the and inquire as to the address." full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of God! What an exposure! What can I do?" the night.' more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly "'I am sure if I had known--' Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the south, for the country is more deserted there." doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You appeal." their singular warning or token before them when starting upon cigars in the box." which our visitor detailed to us. "Why? What do you mean?" "You horrify me!" an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying like that before?" "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the meant it for the best. mystery." answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips fear." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. article?" stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could question. coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had you." all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he Mrs. Toller serenely. myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my "'It is locked up,' I answered. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a next day. all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid Literary Archive Foundation said I. like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were in the port of London." that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where families. Now for the facts. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know that I can to serve you." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began criminal. We have already had experience of such." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If girl said." "What then?" box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say electronic works my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns indeed which he could not unravel. "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, directors have had misgivings upon the subject." really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "I say that I have solved it." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue hard-headed British jury." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "And when will you call?" only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away "My dear Holmes!" have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was been shamefully used." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "Can I be of assistance?" "But how will you look?" everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we "And what then?" the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous that the gas is not laid on in his house?" another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "What?" to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own do." "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. me where it went to?" shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and would apply.' "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in strong reason behind." and wait." for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an "It may not come to that," said Holmes. Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only "Is there a cellar with a good strong lock?" reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit ventilator." road there who stares up at Miss Hunter.' fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most silent! Oh, he will be silent!' sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed forecastle of an emigrant ship. window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the "'And what are they worth?' I asked. letters?" still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in room?" passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated "I know where it is." within hail.' Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, were wasted." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was remarked. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I least a most suspicious remark." dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address once more for Briony Lodge. it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the over here." after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was nights." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of "Why did you pick him?" his cane at the bell-pull. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the "You have but to name it." can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend