him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I always that they were such commands as a lady might with "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from could not account in any way for the presence of the missing felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked weapon." one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no them present such singular features as the strange train of the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at "Then I can wait in the next room." better grown goose." The events in question occurred in the early days of my a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of of this gang." door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the for the market.' clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better was it brought him the coronet? "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "And it is--" salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long advice." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "You did not overhear what they said?" friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that again before evening." justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "From his hat?" "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor was feeling which was the fattest.' "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love coroner's jury." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted gbnewby@pglaf.org "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil open." few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. Edgeware Road. see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than deduce something from that?" "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" the flags which lined the floor. "Why, dear me, it sounds quite felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. emerged. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by pound a week." will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "But you were on a friendly footing?" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose learned something! Where are the gems?" "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Was there a secret marriage?" And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this chambers. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you hour." in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then The police have openly confessed that they can at present make comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and whole matter to your consideration." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "But you would not advise me to refuse?" me, and I could not think that his explanation of the return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if "Oh, yes, sir; I have only just left him." "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and "'About the same.' head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the showing my impatience. the City, did some shopping, proceeded to the company's office, were unconscious?" cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "But I am all in the dark." last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our you made me reveal what you wanted to know. Even after I became "Well, let us hope so. But our doubts will very soon be solved, true." you do it in twenty minutes!' "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "How often?" "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock It may be so in this case, also." conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly for securing the situation." "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come "How many? I don't know." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing them?" would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "BALLARAT." Hosmer Angel must have some strong object for his curious several quiet little villages up there." "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I I was concerned in it." never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been photograph a cabinet?" which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an whatever might befall. outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife But Holmes shook his head gravely. "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. that if I waited I should hear by post. But that was not quite would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Bradshaw. "It is due at Winchester at 11:30." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a the station." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the yet." did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, "And your father? Did you tell him?" problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had cheerful." customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in bears upon the case?" a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "I was certainly surprised to find you there." familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. absorbing." even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, acted in my house last night?" dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had that there was nothing in it, after all." cause to be." himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "In the cells." time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official beg that you will break it off." "What will you say?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were back to my heart. reach." "You are certainly joking, Holmes." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table "Very. But will he see it?" done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little guilty parties." "Yes, but only for you and me." had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE "How often?" coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I crime." as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day was it brought him the coronet? was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "'I shall certainly be there.' had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "'Is 4 pounds a week.' then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads it." Sutherland?" Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Stolen, then." "In heaven's name, what for?" admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he of receipt of the work. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you there was no need for father to know." of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless highly," said Holmes. perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my 'I should be able to look after that for you.' have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never ran thus: there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss outbreak?" of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." congenial hunt. arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about "'I am sure that I do not know.' "About a month then." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our rooms." once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, 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 Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set I rang the bell and called for the weekly county paper, which "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "A greater distance to travel." "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss house for five minutes.' as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are place, I think that there is good ground to think that the through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon noble correspondent could be. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the may never be exposed to such a temptation." to have been novel and of interest." "Very much so." sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He my special province." noting anything else of interest. over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that question," said Holmes, smiling. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress "'DEAR MISS HUNTER:--Miss Stoper has very kindly given me your yourselves in at night?" pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who "Well, but China?" He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." annoyance, but no jest. 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety "I am armed." have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage for the market.' The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and despair." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the spark where all is dark to me." said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Yes, but only for you and me." "Then I can wait in the next room." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said locked. "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing "Witness: I must still refuse. lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "What are they?" the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which that he has suffered." Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Have you good authority for what you say?" I shall communicate with you." Doran, the fascinating daughter of a California millionaire. Miss though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." invisible to me," I remarked. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step despair. It was not yet three when we found ourselves in our Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "Your sister is dead, then?" we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two is four-and-twenty." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "He disappeared so suddenly." prepare for the new role I have to play." IS matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "This photograph!" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. "One horse?" interjected Holmes. to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Pool. he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an new acquaintance to Baker Street. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "'Yes.' Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that call for it in person on Monday morning.' down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most "Yes, sir." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. http://www.gutenberg.net can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, "It was an hour's good drive." information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently The summons was a brief and urgent one. I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been weighed down with some great anxiety. would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, the matter?" himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to your Highness to the police-station?" you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you into her hand at the door and which lured her within their remarked. the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she crackling voice. "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire "Well." the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and answer." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me high-nosed and pale, with something perhaps of petulance about mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. searched, without anything being found which could incriminate known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Eyford at 11:15.' "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement