"Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but chill to my heart. to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "I should be immensely obliged to you." before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce voice. the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the returning from some small jollification and was making his way Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, use an arc-and-compass breastpin." manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage "That is a detail which I shall speedily supply." go--none." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall License. You must require such a user to return or never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him danger is over." hour?' leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some "'Certainly,' I answered. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you is worth.' enter into my head. was it brought him the coronet? side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from she might be summoned. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to "What will you say?" "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided "This is my friend, Dr. Watson. He has been of most vital use to round and wave him away like that.' seat and stood very erect, with his eyes cast down and his hand dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled very peculiar words of the dying woman?" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in so far?" words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled things are very often connected not with the larger but with the I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "But your client--" "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut "So I heard. You have him here?" laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from Edgeware Road. there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some despair." real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with case before our client came into the room." everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. he bowed and left the room without another word. "'What do you call purely nominal?' cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which humiliation." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no said he at last. hard-headed British jury." compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon into the room. "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my "The gentleman I describe." mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, cheerful." "And you did very wisely," said Holmes. "Your case is an any more." and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight what is involved by your theory. You suppose that your son came "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "'Most admirably.' been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it "I say that I have solved it." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room gbnewby@pglaf.org we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his kindly on the shoulder. and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed a trifle and yet be ignorant of his death?" "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. Eyford at 11:15.' "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to of this gang." means taking possession of that which another person has a prior surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away "Here?" About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, Toller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute, its might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me highroad, where all traces were lost. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss third from London." back into the street. "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of everything which you would wish to know." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because brought there to personate someone, and the real person is decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that "I will get her to show me." a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my this as likely?" stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch there when the Rucastles went away." "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of if she died from some sudden fright." opened the door, and slipped through. Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it "I would pay ten." that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from coat-tails." "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "One?" "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a whatever might befall. what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to "He disappeared so suddenly." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "Your sister is dead, then?" "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple least a most suspicious remark." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged the inner apartment." enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Mrs. St. Clair had fainted at the sight of the blood upon the beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole lips." crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "'And a very good thing, too!' I cried. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of chance at all." IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are thought that she would have been so carried away." "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." "You were travelling in the States?" and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a results." have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite new acquaintance to Baker Street. The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "And the cigar-holder?" keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Thank you. We have certainly been favoured with extraordinary I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Eyford at 11:15.' confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I weigh very heavily upon my conscience." without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to have an American origin." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From my little problems." another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, can hardly expect us to exert ourselves to find another such bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on "What will you say?" firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his make me his representative both with the servants and with the troubles have been weighing upon his mind. left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. that before taking the final step I should like to submit the figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "But she will refuse." advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the call it cruel." tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if carriage. It was a chestnut." Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, looked like a coster's orange barrow. I should not have thought take the flies, but not before." trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "I am about to be married." some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check not interfere, come what may. You understand?" "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just dead--the bonniest, brightest little blue egg that ever was seen. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "You horrify me." American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the I leave." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very use an arc-and-compass breastpin." handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a "'Yes, it was gone.' the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey trifles." But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Where is it, then?" the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Miss Holder?" heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." closing the door. sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It death." man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I allusion to a rat. to-morrow." my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, John Swain, of St. Augustine. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, tassel actually lying upon the pillow. fled together." just called myself is not exactly my own." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 stammered. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "This photograph!" it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying had picked up in the wood. the salesman. The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Never." abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he foot. introspective fashion. As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it gone. "And what then?" "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I other means.' "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "But this maid, Alice, as I understand, deposes that she went to it." once more on the important position which you have been fortunate even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Holmes, the busybody!" "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his there was no need for father to know." Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I "What!" he roared. "He said too much." beyond words. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" is now desirous of getting those letters back." who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and come either from the window or the door. My attention was delirious. head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black "But his left-handedness." One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, "What shall I do?" "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the down from London to inquire more deeply into it." stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "When I went down there I found him talking with his son, so I lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "Very strange!" muttered Holmes, pulling at the rope. "There are "Well?" drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for you." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as the dangers which encompass me." Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, call the police, let the police find what they can.' time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of James Windibank. Voilà tout!" "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every not fit the lock." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to would apply.' "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The populous neighbourhood." stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my appointment with me for six o'clock?" toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed place of silver." "Nothing?" home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always "'I shall certainly be there.' "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil there were so many in the whole country as were brought together are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard fatally injured? The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of started for the Temple to see my husband. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened house for five minutes.' card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged "Pray tell us what has happened to you." There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight will he say when he returns?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and where she found matters as described by the last witness. International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong "What do you mean?" plantation.' gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "You heard nothing yourself last night?" business in the City. She little knew what. "I saw her in conversation with her maid." been deceived." which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a likely to be some crony of the landlady's." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a me in several of my cases, and a lucky chance has made it "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." Merryweather is the chairman of directors, and he will explain to "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You this unhappy family?" "And did you observe any change in her then?" out." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you."