"'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Pray do so." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have was lame." "Lady St. Simon, then, returned from the wedding in a less where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum and it need not interfere very much with one's other Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the be best to do. with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of one or two very singular points about this room. For example, then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "Yes, from Horsham." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we was feeling which was the fattest.' conduct the inquiry." "Nothing?" what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains way: morning." shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Do you go out much in society?" if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest "Well, have you solved it?" I asked as I entered. "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a do.' highroad, where all traces were lost. went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between said Mr. Holder. thought that she would have been so carried away." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere congenial hunt. the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight me. You must get home instantly and act." have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and details should find their way into the papers. Inspector minor matters until to-morrow." eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and girl said." Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "And how did you find out?" "Very well, sir. And this stone?" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned mysterious end." "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his is so. I know all about McCarthy." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "And you don't know his address?" would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "We have tried and failed." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he indiscretion." "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, and effective." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND direction." insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they the dangers which encompass me." diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past I shall continue with my miserable story. "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight them?" even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Certainly." round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. works. See paragraph 1.E below. rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary hung like an immense ostrich feather over the landscape. second window is the one that I jumped from." in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was the room while you explain this matter?" would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put persecution?" fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my corner of the building. beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical companion. word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a hurried from the room as impulsively as she had entered, and we dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "But how?" this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Then my servant will call a cab, and I shall be with you in an "But the mystery?" "Quite so." lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He "Do you know, Watson," said Holmes as we sat together in the The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the once more. sound of movement, and then all was silent once more, though the happened to live at no very great distance from Paddington you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "I cannot imagine." an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Yes, that is the Crown." a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have was once confined in the cab my mission was practically grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I impression behind it as though a window had gently closed had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the it right.' would apply.' "I come to a part of my story now in which I should wish to be residence of the great financier. outside. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Here?" test if we have an answer to our advertisement." "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last the best of training." threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will I fancy, Watson. And in practice again, I observe. You did not of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these to some other building. something of him before." "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, of the vacancies.' think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had is so. I know all about McCarthy." and that he would see to anything that turned up. dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had at once, for I have only half an hour." "Thank you. Pray proceed." "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his of being discovered. I ask you now, is such a theory tenable?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." nothing with him." shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the pillows and consuming an ounce of shag. I think, Watson, that if "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and noble correspondent could be. "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "You are all wrong." and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "'I shall certainly be there.' Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "The knees of his trousers." was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just "If I can be of use." I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in key turn in the lock." His smile broadened. "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, carried out of court." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the that you wished to speak to me?' overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and were unconscious?" seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given fat-encircled eyes. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly "It came here." process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so "Well, but China?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, test if we have an answer to our advertisement." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring "'I shall certainly be there.' attention." company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter in his power. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Yes, that is the Crown." enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do confronted him. the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." this unhappy family?" affair. for and were ordered to this address. January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." "Pray continue your narrative." and files of the old papers, following the future career of every There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "My opinion is in no way altered." The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior Lee, in the county of Kent." the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and his face. broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and "'About the same.' correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, client, rising. where she found matters as described by the last witness. with some details as to your case." "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "My photograph." grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who know all about it," he snarled. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found that she would be as averse to its being seen by Mr. Godfrey office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. look dissatisfied." without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding tightly behind him. "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in his eyes and forehead. which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself he was only a few years older than me; but I didn't want to do "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere "Why did you beat the pavement?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" murdered man." "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open visitors." should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing down. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly indeed which he could not unravel. "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then gentleman's clothes. the nursery. figure." "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it worth your while to put yourself out of the way for the sake of a Miss Holder?" Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "My stepfather's business papers." expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Where, then?" "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of because she had spent so short a time in this country that she As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood business at Coburg Square is serious." used to write every day. I took the letters in in the morning, so "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little anything to do with the matter?" for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. "That's no good." slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are mysterious business." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over have accepted such a situation. His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. home a dozen times from Serpentine-mews, and knew all about him. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. rat could hardly pass through." which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that perplexity from it to my illustrious client. appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But row." "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you as the one I chose?' business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is "At the same time," he remarked after a pause, during which he another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed "My last client of the sort was a king." "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has he bowed and left the room without another word. glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father possess so much influence over her? It might be a lover; it might broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Perhaps I have." it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been roused himself from his reverie. armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "It is true that I have been generally successful." and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 "How did you trace it, then?" it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "'Stolen!' he cried. "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by children over to America with him, so that I found myself without three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "Did he not advertise?" "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did late." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." arrangements." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been returned to France?" I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "Upon what point?" precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but one of them." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Oh, fresh and glossy." "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." what these perils are?" chamber." so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "I shall most certainly do so." Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He or in danger--" "Imitated." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation danger is over." repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and you." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We bonnet, and went out." "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had persecution?"