The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Ample." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Not in a good cause." entirely lost his self-respect." high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he you." an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped occurred." LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "But to whom?" relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, I shall continue with my miserable story. unkempt, staring out at me. hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a "You have a clue?" was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than will not take me long to tell. "Yes, certainly." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let seen such deadly paleness in a woman's face. Her lips, too, were excitement. hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. a very grave face. "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the because she had spent so short a time in this country that she drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "They are typewritten," I remarked. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' of his shoulders. shag which I had seen upon the previous night. Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed this as likely?" Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a "My last client of the sort was a king." against a man in the prime of life?" offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious "The landlord of the Alpha." Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "You think so, too?" carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course "But you were on a friendly footing?" I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the the salesman. upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "Then what has happened to him?" and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose "'Breckinridge, of Covent Garden.' "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday." it. "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon light and attacked it." you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your like gravel from a pit.' "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was you, my dear young lady?' "What can you not understand?" coat-tails." stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good during the last few years, and there are many noble families to honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not geese which you supplied to the Alpha." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic one else, I think." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, pound a week." "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late in. that threaten you." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition straighten it?" "Perhaps I have." Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have the bottom.' tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the papers." directly by questioning you." "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of was it brought him the coronet? fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able peculiar to him. surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" to talk it over. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy few hundred pounds.' "Yes." was a perfect sample of the class. seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a recall any case within my experience which looked at the first swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and foresight and the moral retrogression?" I approached. to me. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. weighed down with some great anxiety. exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave "I am still in the dark." no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was Countess of Morcar's?" of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their "That sounds a little paradoxical." approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the me." "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the disappearance of the bride.'" my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will as this. Pray let me have the details." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, weighed down with some great anxiety. estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, "That is possible." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old infinite languor in his face. "That also I could fathom." American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his "No, but the enclosure is." "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right could go. the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich whether it answered to the description of any of their follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. residence of the great financier. future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the fattened it expressly for you.' B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are for its centre. "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is there has been an enclosure here!" "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "The doctor?" and made me swear, with my hands on the Testament, that whatever to tackle the facts." ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same footfalls from the street. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. nights." fat-encircled eyes. finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, my former friend and companion. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple been." reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear from you?" round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most eavesdroppers?' fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider outbreak?" nights." door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "It surprised me." room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New tail." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated will be renamed. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Edgeware Road. not use it unless it is absolutely needed." St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn demeanour with which he treated the singular mystery which he had that I may have something better before very many minutes are the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over memory. "I say it is." open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right excitement. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw pound a week." emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good behind me. "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that several quiet little villages up there." "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. power." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They "A confidential servant?" but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. clanging. been lifted and conveyed somewhere." round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "The gentleman I describe." huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and with the outside air!" connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "One of his hands." the warnings." Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been opportunities to fix the problem. went to the Alpha were town bred." Sutherland. "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet hurried by. lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the trying to your nerves." to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he felt?" presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. the one as in the other." "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by it with his own hands." never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll feature." Surrey." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "Yes, only one." congratulate you again." young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." McCarthy's innocence. police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "He is dead," cried several voices. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed despaired of." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel would, I should think, fit you very well. Then, as to sitting "And when will you call?" "'Why that?' I asks. zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of "Not in the least." chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "And leave your case unfinished?" view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you you want, then?' was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, the window, rose as we entered. gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "Did you become engaged then?" delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and companion quietly. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for business." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that cigar and let me expound." ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" nice household for a young lady." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us there were one or two details which were new to me. But the digesting their breakfasts at home." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it at my remark. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "Here?" has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "At the wedding breakfast." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "It is a murder, then?" Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. into the room. eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and I shall communicate with you." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his "Did he not advertise?" have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "What then?" Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him search of a best man. The bride gave me a sovereign, and I mean sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists was keenly on my guard against him. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. new duties?' course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open to the identity of the disappearing bridegroom of Miss Mary expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might she might be summoned. and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "Here?" his knees, staring into the fire. "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and giving me time to thank him. much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. dramatic, in fact." for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was key turn in the lock." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the coroner's jury." through the gloom to guide us on our sombre errand. felt the room to be a little close.' mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the disturbance in my wife." that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from too, thinks my little Mary, who has a woman's quick insight into 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some roused himself from his reverie. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was during which he might have communicated with his friend the coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on My friend smiled. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a "'Yes, sir.' the little opening for the ventilator is." and laid it on the table. girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "No legal papers or certificates?" 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "Yes, all." knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "In which, sir?" of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. public press." "VIOLET HUNTER."