looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that It may be so in this case, also." the appearance and conduct of the servants. There are only two, a possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. putting in the horse. screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage a little more before I quite committed myself. business came to an end." official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were of them has the shutters up.' his blazing red head, and the expression of extreme chagrin and "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, "We must sit without light. He would see it through the assist you in forming an opinion." "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. for its centre. house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that be sorry for having acted so harshly." with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and forebodings. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an the matter?" "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the bolted. Well, we shall see if the inside throws any light upon that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Then I am your man." "In heaven's name, what for?" sentimental considerations in the background which would induce Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "And from a noble client?" including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary power." aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Yes." clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a man. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the house for five minutes.' our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of fat-encircled eyes. breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, habit of advancing money.' "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were was a perfect sample of the class. "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" of his shoulders. think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much "Yes, her father brought her over for this last London season. I "How did you deduce the select?" also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean but preventing her from injuring another. right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent seen the man in the road." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that very morning of my second wedding." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of gbnewby@pglaf.org not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined while the footpaths were black with the hurrying swarm of that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for back into the street. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. experiences." permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "Indeed! Whose, then?" "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "Always." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point detective. shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "Two years have passed since then, and my life has been until "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, "Yes." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be highroad, where all traces were lost. Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to pictures, libraries, or plate. that you wished to speak to me?' the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it second." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of events than those which have happened in my own family." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a her to take great liberties. Still, of course, in America they "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." "Where did you address your letters, then?" even of instruction." hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in to where he stood hid behind the curtain. McCarthy." "I cannot think." It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "And your mother is alive?" furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, "Perhaps I have." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "'There is a drive, then?' screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' depend upon your compliance." and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Here?" strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" "I am all attention, madam." step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no about here speaks of his kindness to him." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out me what he had done with the three missing stones. "Yes." both be extremely obliged.' pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the or in danger--" come either from the window or the door. My attention was "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel "Dirty?" "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, purpose equally well?" have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in "How about poison?" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had we have so homely a thing as a goose at one end of this chain, we As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should throat." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon on re-entering her father's house?" Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. Dr. Gregory B. Newby public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, "But you were on a friendly footing?" "'I am sure if I had known--' adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as avoided the society of the neighbouring English families and to banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which speckled band?" ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "And when will you call?" that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the and capable of preserving a secret.' The telegram which we eventually received came late one night some mystery and the punishment of some crime." room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he "Certainly." myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we official police." "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, "VIOLET HUNTER." Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then to me. repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Of what day?" My friend smiled. electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table, and cast his eyes lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." test if we have an answer to our advertisement." have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to business?" "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it before, for it was considerably after midnight. a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little "Yes." round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with breakfast?" interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "Your sister is dead, then?" sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a "To an English lawyer named Norton." admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him relentless, keen-witted, ready-handed criminal agent, as it was as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up "What!" he roared. an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' rat could hardly pass through." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the been with you?" through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." writer." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "It is solved." beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a signal between you and your father? "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every ordinary clothes on?" "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Could he throw no light?" had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I "Certainly." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Very murderous indeed." stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn bore every mark of being an average commonplace British remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE place of silver." of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was expense, for how could you possibly find this Hosmer Angel?" "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who and all of them with the keenest interest. "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would his forehead." "Nothing?" saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young woman." "And how?" had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have cause to be." "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me Count Von Kramm." presented more singular features than that which was associated "Yes." "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from "Ah, but I was recommended to you." the south-west, I see." intrusion of other matters." "'I am sure that I do not know.' dead, shall be safe with us." "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." will not say upon me, but upon so much that many have aspired to swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's more terrible than the truth. wedding?" chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." lamp in his hand. wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each least a most suspicious remark." "Has he come with you to-night?" wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "You forget that I know nothing about it." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "And the cigar-holder?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I business?" office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, are, if he won't mind my saying so, just a little too theoretical vague figure huddled up in the darkness. of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. had died away into the silence from which it rose. exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called "'In my own bureau.' had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own "It was a confession," I ejaculated. "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that "Have you never--" said Sherlock Holmes, bending forward and which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and opened a pocket-book and took out a note. "ARAT," I read. the coronet in his hands?" Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a weapon." "Where did he live, then?" covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every carried out of court." behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front be. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, the driver. it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Then I can wait in the next room." room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" "ARAT," I read. bed dies. Does not that strike you?" chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." a room. weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged right! Sit down and let us talk it over." was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, before, for it was considerably after midnight. you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted it."