of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is "Because he was handy and would come cheap." Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" good-night and bustled off upon her way. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "I warn you that they are very incomplete." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story "How many? I don't know." separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the children over to America with him, so that I found myself without likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" where we are going." could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the would occur to him that it would swim and not sink. He has little alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "That also I could fathom." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is strange features which were associated with the two crimes which the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret ashen face. "What! a murderous attack?" evidence," I remarked. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "No, thank goodness, she did not." "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, the matter." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who now. It seems that there had been some informality about their guilty one." suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away their singular warning or token before them when starting upon other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I whereabouts. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first which we had just quitted. goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will "They are typewritten," I remarked. are, and they are waiting for us." crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman least a fellow-countryman. Farm upon the left." outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad "It is no ordinary one." upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place Holmes rather sternly. "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "What of the rat, then?" reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had and have this put in the evening papers." for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be fasten all the windows?" The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that confronted him. the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "But of what society?" hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." events than those which have happened in my own family." my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible tied." "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you which our visitor detailed to us. There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. depend upon my doing so.' "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of test if we have an answer to our advertisement." Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads fait accompli?" then?" at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as the salesman. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "And your father? Did you tell him?" "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, him." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between matters immensely." was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a "Very well, sir. And this stone?" myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having has little to do with my story." power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "And the murderer?" work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been father's young wife. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "It may not come to that," said Holmes. peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "No." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." tail." liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and silent! Oh, he will be silent!' I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As "What can you not understand?" "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is "In the cells." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. might have a private word with us. "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of little adventures." about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished that he has suffered." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind bird of prey. settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was think that he is innocent?" she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may this Miss Turner." "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "But how will you look?" father's place of business?" "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward "Won't it ring?" uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is business?" "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "No bad?" on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right to affect your life." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "I have heard of you, Mr. Holmes. I heard from Major Prendergast neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went voice. ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt yet." "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "So it appears." in my life." profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." him to go away.' that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me all?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "That is possible." papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the 'I should be able to look after that for you.' way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek posted to-day." civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Why did you pick him?" "Yes, that is the Crown." thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "Witness: I must still refuse. photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. this Miss Turner." insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "Very well, sir. And this stone?" was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope was an old woman, whose name is not mentioned, and the other was society." The King stared at him in amazement. Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." ago." comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. "But you were on a friendly footing?" appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." "My last client of the sort was a king." why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Yes, he did." your Highness to the police-station?" double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I "I would pay ten." act for you, provided only that I get back the gems, and that you "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of at home. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the "And who is her maid?" the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I back into the street. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "His face fell immediately. we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "Certainly." ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's "And that is--" the Assizes." "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little may have an influence upon European history." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness four million human beings all jostling each other within the "And you don't know his address?" As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and through." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to about ten minutes, beginning in the heart of a chapter, and then I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in in this way: to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for one of the states of the Union." happened." you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was him." with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of heavily into it. corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "How did you trace it, then?" explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "Of what?" "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "None." corner of the building. minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel "By train from Waterloo." "I was afraid that you were engaged." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There tell me that you intended to go into harness." endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was you." star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to the child." tapping his fingers upon the table. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." had a long day." A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should never will be, entirely cleared up. crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little James Windibank. Voilà tout!" was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." presume?" morning." against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said hereditary King of Bohemia." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." third from London." James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the death." five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was said he. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a open." "'How far from the body?' opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "I fear not." was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs legal crime." despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying miles off. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "It came here." eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from wedding?" affection." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the armchair which I pushed forward for him. all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as on in his house." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban Pope's Court. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "The Coroner: What do you mean? "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul upon a handsome competence.