in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. your most interesting statement." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which dead, shall be safe with us." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "BALLARAT." mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "My own seal." "It is possible." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the His name is Francis Prosper." essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "But I am all in the dark." me." say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to one else, I think." "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I lamp in his hand. had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed before, for it was considerably after midnight. dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the derbies." that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a contrast to it as the front of a picture does to the back. It was "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations "One horse?" interjected Holmes. annoyance, but no jest. yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback "I have solved it." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "You are certainly joking, Holmes." happened." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "Oh, fresh and glossy." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "No. What a strange idea!" as noiselessly as she had come. "'Where to?' "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed girl said." and all of them with the keenest interest. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. have had none more fantastic than this." "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my DISSOLVED. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very must compliment you." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "Were they all fastened this morning?" house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, not, dad?" she asked. authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." "And your mother is alive?" Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body locked." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy one of them." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and his forehead." behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" records." answer." What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "'Ten to two.' "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend "Perfectly so." "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a digesting their breakfasts at home." creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a "In answer to an advertisement." overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the the general public were present, then?" glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, served to weaken the effect. a little more before I quite committed myself. held up the lantern and gazed about him. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, call you and give you the chance." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were his huge brown hands. disturbance in my wife." "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what any more." business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it a suggestive one." ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I tapping his fingers upon the table. someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary of Mr. Rucastle's." could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, during which he might have communicated with his friend the overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by Holmes turned over the leaves of the book upon his knee. "Here it retorted upon me, and I on you." upon a handsome competence. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to down from London to inquire more deeply into it." in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring remarked. "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "It is a murder, then?" the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "Then I do not see the point." somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my "Game for a morning drive?" garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, The summons was a brief and urgent one. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you him." the loss of it. though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom his huge brown hands. long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles questionable one." examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do Mrs. Toller serenely. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when fact, we may call it conclusive." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further views." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." three fields round his house, and there he would take his smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into became a certainty. "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford go--none." "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the side. there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an that before taking the final step I should like to submit the at home. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I my mind is made up that I will accept it. I thought, however, When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and there were one or two details which were new to me. But the guilty one." "I cannot imagine." the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, into the bag, and made for the door. Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, me where it went to?" should be taken.' Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "9th. McCauley cleared. settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low middle-aged, has grizzled hair which he has had cut within the "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not "Yes, the wine-cellar." France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to companion imperturbably. began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the there has been an enclosure here!" "No, I am descending." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, "Then, how do you know?" pressing in one house as in another. are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in next day. long narrative. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end to have been novel and of interest." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" the nursery. Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. to some other building. "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, morning." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of lectures into a series of tales." I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without could be reached from the top of the coach-house. I walked round "That also I could fathom." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce relief. tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, Project Gutenberg-tm works. freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your valuable gem known as the blue carbuncle. James Ryder, case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." Arthur Conan Doyle "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned felt?" usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the way in everything. To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard wife's character?" which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend felt?" strength of mind to control. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of to-morrow." shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other arrangements." attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at never came back." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your to-night's adventure." "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread meanly of me." "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "What shall I do?" be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by American. Then who could this American be, and why should he and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And "How about poison?" "I am about to be married." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand perplexity from it to my illustrious client. tassel actually lying upon the pillow. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A tell them apart.' "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner chance." "I know where it is." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my must at once put the box out upon the sundial, as directed. Do stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would someone who had been in Australia." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke this poor creature." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you the ceiling. points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your felt?" Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in laugh and put his lips to my ear. down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over But Holmes shook his head gravely. to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No business came to an end." Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, "Yes." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "Yes, he did." worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of perplexity from it to my illustrious client. hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly sentence. As it was, he suffered a long term of imprisonment and exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who bled considerably." we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which "'Where to?' "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and garden. I lent the ostlers a hand in rubbing down their horses, good for you to do.' utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of