every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure certainly not very gracious." "Texas, I think." house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you four million human beings all jostling each other within the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, This is what he says: "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to the inquest, and which are worth considering." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "'About the same.' and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the later, upon the night of May 2nd." secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" because she had spent so short a time in this country that she His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips "'Where could I find him?' fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking signal between you and your father? round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may Mrs. Toller serenely. his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "And I to find an enemy." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your train.' the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Proceed, then." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy his fortune, and I went back to pa. of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "I shall be delighted." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for on in his house." as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I a room. "That is unusual in a young girl." national property. I was determined that the law should have its The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "My photograph." be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." client, rising. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry delirious. "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a works. See paragraph 1.E below. reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to infinite languor in his face. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room morning." it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped business?" looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "'As governess?' places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair to surprise her." cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have one of the states of the Union." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. to some other building. investigation." said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "Yes, sir." you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never key of the affair now." makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What residence of the great financier. of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent prisoner's face. "The rest you will leave in our hands." "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with even of instruction." considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up indeed happy." my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at disappearance of these gems?" this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved test if we have an answer to our advertisement." my special province." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something trifles." who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "Not social, then?" be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the with her." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's interests were the same as his." Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. "Then he might have called to you?" latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. enter into my head. "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with "Witness: Nothing definite. found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an of them has the shutters up.' "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "You saw the ventilator, too?" one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his where Mr. Fordham shows you.' including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I to you." the date of his supposed suicide." sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her of it with the greatest attention. "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all silent! Oh, he will be silent!' the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows into the room. "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their Munro.' my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the "'Then let me do so?' It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "That's no good." broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a which our visitor detailed to us. Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box himself up in his chair, with his thin knees drawn up to his Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be most interesting one." attention." frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in girl said." "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the gives a meaning to it." "Pray do so." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "Precisely." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," "I am armed." would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the sofa. This way, please!" upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "'Most admirably.' recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and outbreak?" informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in burst out into a roar of laughter. "What steps will you take?" I asked. when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her maid will bring up your coffee." my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it then?" thought that she would have been so carried away." my room." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He breakfast?" over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my in my life." together. "But what harm can there be in that?" "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of there in twenty minutes." one which it was hard to resist. apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his breakfast." To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "Entirely." which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William do.' down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though Sherlock Holmes closed his eyes and placed his elbows upon the Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying both be extremely obliged.' Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Yes." "You are all wrong." voice. American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the "That will await him when he enters port," said he, chuckling. "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "What, then, did Peterson do?" at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at in his hands." the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; "Why? What do you mean?" politicians who had been sent down from the North. registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Leadenhall Street--and--" business as much depends upon our being able to find remunerative coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "I have come for advice." into the room. "Texas, I think." suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's front of me. the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy not, dad?" she asked. has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" coat-tails." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the keep the flames under. preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double my special province." London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she intensified by his long residence in the tropics. A series of the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that article?" of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without the coronet at all injured?" following enigmatical notices: "It is half-past ten now." were new raised from a basin. traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was "At half-wages, in fact." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to this Miss Turner." strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your "'Why that?' I asks. "I should wish to." about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and had picked up in the wood. "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "'This is Mr. Jabez Wilson,' said my assistant, 'and he is you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the "Coarse writing," murmured Holmes. "Surely this is not your submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in wedding?" my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the people don't know." "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "And I." perplexity from it to my illustrious client. and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may call you and give you the chance." "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is behind me. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call himself to hunt down. room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in "My opinion is in no way altered." importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, great personal beauty. Yet when I think of him in cold blood, far THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for "I am sure." Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute there in twenty minutes." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "Nothing." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door possible that we could bring him back to her? Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a tension within him. Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want thrown back, and chins pointing upward, with here and there a towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "But he might be a bachelor." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. like that before?" very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Was your sister dressed?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's wedding?" "You don't mind breaking the law?" wall." part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, yet." were wasted." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the families. Now for the facts. "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This carriage. It was a chestnut." he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the me, and I could not think that his explanation of the "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' the date of his supposed suicide." "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "Will you go?" never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than everything that may help us in forming an opinion upon the in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "What then?" and that he would see to anything that turned up. sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I to miss it." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Where does the thing come from?' It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "So I have heard." about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in "Entirely." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it had this final quarrel? locked. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away "Well, some hundreds of times." observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue trifles." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the weary and pale-looking. "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my The summons was a brief and urgent one. enter into my head. crackling voice. two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in light and attacked it." "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When "It is possible." hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her "What is it, then--a fire?" know all about it," he snarled. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," lost nothing by them." work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner &