"Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about strength of mind to control. colonel looking down at me. to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and in this way: utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Leadenhall Street--and--" "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" to Leatherhead. "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the But I presume that this other goose upon the sideboard, which is "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very his wife has ceased to love him." permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. "Yes, but only for you and me." overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at sit on the left-hand side of the driver." abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. visitors." "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful considering the formidable letters which were received by himself no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring Lee, in the county of Kent." about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "The murder was done with it." and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll open." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been amused." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a way: "Not in a good cause." do." continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a not come at once?" of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the case before our client came into the room." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. man. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a only touch the interest." footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by indeed which he could not unravel. prisoner's face. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "No. His orders were to stay in the house." occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' generous with you in money matters.' "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner some terrible trap for her." very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my details." standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "Certainly, madam." to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of you understand?" "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he Holmes, when she married again so soon after father's death, and ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I long narrative. my former friend and companion. London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which "And it is--" keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "To an end?" see me here to avoid scandal." But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me - You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or to say that the marriage would be an absolutely quiet one, that it during which he might have communicated with his friend the possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature signal between you and your father? his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he drove away. reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real me. same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their bell. Holmes whistled. I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not directors have had misgivings upon the subject." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded did not hear it also.' perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King wife's character?" it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for upon the white wrist. "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there hour?' "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" with frightened eyes at his accuser. Peterson, so that he was left in possession of the field of He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "It's nothing of the kind." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every question," said Holmes, smiling. such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure persecution?" some water from a caraffe. "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "What shall I do?" to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet successive heirs were of a dissolute and wasteful disposition, "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy absolutely follow my advice in every respect." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time this Miss Turner." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning when you have done it." Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than "Precisely so. But how--" cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I this remarkable episode. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man I am not easy in my mind about them." "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. him to be an active member of the medical profession." presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the Lee, in the county of Kent." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Where is it, then?" five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but forbidden door. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand McCarthy's innocence. might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor "How about poison?" "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you colonel looking down at me. roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution key of the affair now." happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard on in his house." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the least. That is as much as I have been able to gather about the over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Yes." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I go from here to the Strand." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed for and were ordered to this address. must compliment you." some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, one's self under obligations.' "My own seal." four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; empty. "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending it were putty." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias "Then I am your man." in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for "Yes, there are nearly always some there." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your of them has the shutters up.' waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "And I." my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'What do you call purely nominal?' had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "And I to find an enemy." dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting little distance down Threadneedle Street, upon the left-hand in your London, you will know that the office of the company is more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." even of instruction." matter." http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he "No bad?" showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. nearly all my data. May I ask whether you were seated at the "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of over part of the map. "What do you read?" so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "But your client--" reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to hard-headed British jury." the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he have reasons to know that there are widespread rumours as to the do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler in this note: very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "'Where could I find him?' brought there to personate someone, and the real person is of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had away to you." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' The events in question occurred in the early days of my my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to bell. Holmes whistled. open." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his through." houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan to a light-house. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream him!" useful material for showing traces. The double line a little whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask conversation I have gathered that they have been married about "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet business." "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into emerged. brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., corner of the building. d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw politicians who had been sent down from the North. test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Eh? What was that?" it." "Who by?" "Yes, I have one waiting." of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, have had none more fantastic than this." "'Is purely nominal.' "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "I am in hopes that she does." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "'Where could I find him?' "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I exactly what you advise." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you "You have a clue?" and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be has little to do with my story." "The decline of his fortunes, then?" had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to said he. rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now would apply.' me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in for securing the situation." you?" grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I grasp, he hurried from the room. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I would give my fortune to have them back." considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have away into the river." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a "What?" "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" in his hands." no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "I am to be neutral?" "Well." individual and becomes the badge of a society." without a word or a look. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us detective. 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his "They are typewritten," I remarked. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "Yes?" Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a the matter?" "Stoke Moran?" said he. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very from the brougham. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly villagers almost as much as their master. "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was upon an income of about 60 pounds." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now straightened it out again. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had read it from his soothing answers and averted eyes. But I have hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is case-book, which he consulted. What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that intrusion of other matters." to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." I leave." redistribution. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the the devil!" twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I residence of the great financier. without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his