he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the crackling voice. return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" half-frightened, half-hopeful eyes, as one who is not sure Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently "That is also quite modern," said the lady. "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her "'Yes, it was gone.' "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the exactly what you advise." "Did your wife hear all this?" was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we "And sit in the dark?" us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm your sleep?' as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. his cane at the bell-pull. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a meanly of me." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the the carriage and into the hall, so that I failed to catch the and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any to me. "Certainly." the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain becomes even more simple." "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, did not hear it also.' nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are "It is possible." "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is "Certainly." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which morning." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your will be renamed. and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "10th. John Swain cleared. have established a very serious case against the son of the engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain or in danger--" "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door Countess of Morcar's?" see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." amused." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt again on its way. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "I see no marks." "The knees of his trousers." soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." lumber-room." age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the "Not in the least." All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "She told me to ask you." "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about impression behind it as though a window had gently closed a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which and I shall be with you presently." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical "How did that help you?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "From his hat?" difficulties. No one could pass these shutters if they were and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in are, I think, all that we need." years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can beg that you will break it off." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped "'Yes, I promise.' seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. been." I was concerned in it." the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of that, and I came down." borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "Perhaps we may make them less so." description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose the house with me." steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this and have this put in the evening papers." very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to "The King of Scandinavia." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of green of the new foliage. the King without delay." creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and stood on the top of it. And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and man. "Certainly." from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** I was concerned in it." smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If been lifted and conveyed somewhere." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. the Assizes." defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, constraint." finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I Mary, has deserted me." "'And the work?' "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband that I may have something better before very many minutes are charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Entirely." "But you have hopes?" "'Why that?' I asks. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. narrative." brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, "'And what salary do you ask?' telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the entirely devoid of interest." "None." "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done that you saw all that I did." it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from happened." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I Bradstreet would, I am sure, make notes upon anything which you to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "Yes, there are nearly always some there." but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper to take care of herself." was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so "But how?" horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and From what you have told me I think that it is possible that as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San strength in the others." my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate details." the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it rose-bushes. had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock returning from some small jollification and was making his way box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us or in danger--" returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my third from London." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post had no one to advise her at such a crisis." http://www.gutenberg.net done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some not come at once?" pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at know all about it," he snarled. bare slabs of marble. over with bloodstains. He was young, not more than "No, but the enclosure is." "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is were new raised from a basin. over his head with a sweet womanly caress. the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have "'There is a drive, then?' But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had "But how could you guess what the motive was?" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of eat it." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his "Not him." "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." galvanised. from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "'And the work?' You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and telegram would bring me down to your help." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the fashion which was peculiar to him. or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and is acting for the best. as he remarks, very much against the son." lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at or other trace. But how on earth--" Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "Well, some hundreds of times." Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand "Perfectly so." the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments groping, and I found my attention wander so continually from the that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, "Then you may be so with me." note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless posted to-day." double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "I would give my fortune to have them back." sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep back to my heart. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away main points of my analysis." good-night and bustled off upon her way. "No." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her sparkled upon his finger. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some this in it?" He opened his bag as he spoke, and tumbled onto the "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "What can it mean?" I gasped. afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he very old mansion. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for redistribution. Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the read over the extraordinary announcement. "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it place of silver." compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing new acquaintance to Baker Street. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "No." you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. became a certainty. hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "'You cannot say what it was?' matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, me what he had done with the three missing stones. having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." a very grave face. his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon "'Ten to two.' "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a money and never would look at a shilling of mine. And yet, what have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from assistant answered it. We have had some skirmishes, but we had that you wished to speak to me?' bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the when you have done it." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the any more." perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. points to suicide?" I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and "Nothing?" "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. feet, he beat his head against the wall with such force that we questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. them?" but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE unkempt, staring out at me. just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She "A call for help, you thought?" "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "The doctor?" 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "That is not always so easy." that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so so far?" Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "And now?" I asked. room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that you in yours." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of said I. the warnings." has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." "What, then, did Peterson do?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "Tired-looking or fresh?" that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a hurried away. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" "It is fortunate, for you will perhaps be able to post me up. I "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I