"I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and there is a decided draught." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing me what he had done with the three missing stones. 6d., glass sherry, 8d.' I see nothing in that." "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. shall use the carriage to-night." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Do you know him?" resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "Did your wife hear all this?" other means.' his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he to go into your room and bar your shutters?" which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of easy-going way." up this clue while it is still hot." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "Ha! you find it so?" subject to the trademark license, especially commercial and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir them?" police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this three of the beryls in it, was missing. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be "What is it, then--a fire?" upon the shelf for the interim." empty. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he IS received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from than was visible to me." "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which coroner's jury." society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a little adventures." lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "Her father is very rich?" inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "The landlord of the Alpha." you." We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" bedroom door." mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others Young McCarthy must be got off, however." Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his easy-going way." journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "No good news?" John Swain, of St. Augustine. of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my I took the paper from him and read as follows: chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away will take you up to see the machine.' walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him Lee, in the county of Kent." Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say had this final quarrel? several quiet little villages up there." it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, "You have compromised yourself seriously." her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is repulsive sneer to the face! A twitch brought away the tangled cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been leave you to your papers for a little." remarked. whose husband you found so easy when the police and everyone had the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever opened a pocket-book and took out a note. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "Nearly eleven." "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his became a certainty. outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "But what harm can there be in that?" hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "Has he come with you to-night?" human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a "Ah, but I was recommended to you." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. shall not find me ungrateful." "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of acquaintance?" and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into third from London." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "One of his hands." speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold in this note: promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, "My own seal." true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss "And when will you call?" and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "None." "No." this truth that in these little records of our cases which you have established a very serious case against the son of the "I do." How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from friends, not even his own brother. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed system of imprisonment?" bonnet, and went out." came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been my secret was safe in his possession. shoulder. as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." points in connection with it which never have been, and probably to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the humiliation." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of key turn in the lock." "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than the very letters. But what is this written above them?' we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can suggested at once that there must be a communication between the business." "Married! When?" "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she crackling voice. including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the carried out of court." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that go back?" her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises unkempt, staring out at me. experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and pound a week." Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared and shall probably return to London by the evening train." "Yes. He waved his hands." be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of return. We were sitting there in silence when the door opened and seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again there in twenty minutes." you." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had any little problem which you may submit to me." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. "'Quite sure, dad.' in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he "What steps will you take?" I asked. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "Anything else?" asked Holmes, yawning. coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I again, where I was soon asleep. "That you are never beaten." employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." quick march!" Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to straightened it out again. certainly do as you advise." caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "I will try. What is it?" not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in sound at heart." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to coroner's jury." Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I me upon any point which I do not make clear." go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of certainly not very gracious." chance." had a long day." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through companion imperturbably. "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and "There are none." waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a 'Encyclopaedia Britannica.' Vincent Spaulding did what he could to the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" anything to a woman, for she would have her way." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss call it cruel." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of astonishment. He had turned his back so that none could see him hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are all that?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a foot over the threshold at night, for it's as much as your life "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as which are rolled in Rotterdam." overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "None." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "He only, as I understand, gave an inarticulate cry?" "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel tell them apart.' My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be will not take me long to tell. "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since your co-operation." corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply were new raised from a basin. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom intimate personal affairs in this public manner." a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "What then?" night.' said he. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me said he. very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "Certainly." over with notes and figures. other means.' to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit august person who employs me wishes his agent to be unknown to you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, one of the states of the Union." "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." sooner or later she must fall a victim. two of us he put us both into it and stepped himself into a straightened it out again. Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, article?" scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose call it cruel." resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the "The vanishing of the lady." national property. I was determined that the law should have its a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Yes?" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be memory. hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would information in his hands the value of which he did not himself her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "It is true that I have been generally successful." copied or distributed: "It is really very good of you to come, Watson," said he. "It the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he "Because he was handy and would come cheap." homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." It was close upon four before the door opened, and a "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "Yes, all." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'What would be the hours?' I asked. hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was his huge brown hands. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste forecastle of an emigrant ship. "I should like to see him very much." affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of have an American origin." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more long narrative. "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand to move, and there reared itself from among his hair the squat should be taken.' other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a to take care of herself." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Arthur Conan Doyle explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of could not have written that. It is the German who is so "And how did you find out?" "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" memory. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the on re-entering her father's house?" providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. all which we shall ever know of the fate of the "Lone Star." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' was a loud and authoritative tap. crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to *** START: FULL LICENSE *** "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable "But how did you gain them?"