extraordinary contortions. absorb all my attention, while Holmes, who loathed every form of it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than most important business. It is probable that he will be away all than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "There is the writing." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching leaning back in his chair. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "From his hat?" follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "Breckinridge is his name." that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the "Precisely so. But how--" Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already in the dead of the night?' "The landlord of the Alpha." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "You have but to name it." "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "You think that he is dead?" Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was returned to France?" obstinate." "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of and would accept in return the hospitality of their tents, "And you can do nothing until then?" came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow better grown goose." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he over with notes and figures. this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but are, I think, all that we need." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in all-comprehensive glances. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but said I. you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "On your arm?" mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it danger is over." similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy Eyford at 11:15.' together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "I cannot think." naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked "Nothing." felt the room to be a little close.' certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to for and were ordered to this address. lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "No good news?" you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, Dr. Gregory B. Newby "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure gentleman's clothes. "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any "What then?" In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than himself in a perplexing position. impression generally of a man of learning and letters who had had say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, "Yes, the wine-cellar." him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "Not him." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own an introduction to him?" for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the here and I will read it to you: will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the elastic-sided boots. Known to have been employed in an office in an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "This photograph!" "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed one's self under obligations.' pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that presented which may be striking and bizarre without being leave you to your papers for a little." "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of and it need not interfere very much with one's other "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "And help." sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend he found us is more than I can think, and he showed us very over to mother, and I find that I can do pretty well with what I home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he "You think so, too?" profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we new duties?' and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding him and tried to hold him back. coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." Serpentine Avenue. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. roused himself from his reverie. a suggestive one." "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a there were so many in the whole country as were brought together other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. with the outside air!" "Game for a morning drive?" the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees Countess of Morcar's?" "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that Sutherland?" derbies." power." ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a relation between them, and what the object of his repeated "I cannot think." convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an figure." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." with her." with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the "How do you know, then?" shoulder; "he's all right." name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "And I." This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune memory. "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "You'll never persuade me to believe that." fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to photograph?" into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "An accident, I presume?" "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away gentleman's clothes. The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. business at Coburg Square is serious." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "I was afraid that you were engaged." sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head the station." himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was once more for Briony Lodge. the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side conduct the inquiry." "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we as yours." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be "'Quite sure, dad.' was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was ventilator." "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, noise which awoke you from your sleep?" rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the place, I think that there is good ground to think that the the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to companion. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have father's place of business?" from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am "Who was the criminal, then?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of "To an end?" not, dad?" she asked. rooms." before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the do." "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "That is it on the dressing-table." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever crackling voice. not within a twentieth part of the market price." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's the child." "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in absorbing." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "'Very good.' the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on "Whose house is it?" grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower since then to throw any light upon what became of him." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling call for protection in the marriage market, for the present suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." think that any burglar could have done. week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing more terrible than the truth. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "A thing like a cleaver," said he. "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked deduce something from that?" beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." had formerly been in part my own. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." ventilator." object of this rather fantastic business of the advertisement of its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that with you alone." to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own said I. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "And who is her maid?" vivid flame-coloured tint. When I saw how many were waiting, I that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he "I would give my fortune to have them back." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom Farm upon the left." was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business not, dad?" she asked. his wife has ceased to love him." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring wedding?" "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if the King without delay." time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your "Deserted you?" "The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your and prosperity to your house. Good-night." occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "'I shall certainly be there.' and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. yards of it?' do you make of it all?" year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "I really have made no inquiries on the subject." suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "My private note-paper." and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the leave you to your papers for a little." "I came to find a friend." and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come think, you have already met." is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after 1.F. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at looking up at the numbers of the houses." the night.' cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a least a most suspicious remark." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a shaken than I had ever seen him. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. London for the present?" sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the difficult to part from them. Mr. Fowler and Miss Rucastle were "'I have already given you my word.' Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm least a fellow-countryman. "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. bill, which interests me deeply." I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, "I should wish to." all that?" and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case chance at all." you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." fish-monger and a tide-waiter." the salesman. "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, signal between you and your father? "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her *** START: FULL LICENSE *** paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency "There is the writing." salesman. season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes the child." to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she suddenly upon us." Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed your co-operation." mystery may be cleared along those lines." be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, the very morning of the wedding." uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since entirely devoid of interest." on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for "Precisely so. But how--" business." course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." be there in time for your coming." generous with you in money matters.' I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all place, I think that there is good ground to think that the and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days sneer upon his pale face. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the good for you to do.' for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has over his head with a sweet womanly caress. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate of note-paper. It read in this fashion: I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have returning from some small jollification and was making his way "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I