"It was an hour's good drive." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "What I expected to see." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would read it out to me." for securing the situation." of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." asked. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the "I am in hopes that she does." "And Miss Sutherland?" events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it his huge brown hands. fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots noble correspondent could be. "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we Leave Paddington by the 11:15." during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain upon the white wrist. "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera to go into your room and bar your shutters?" the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether bears upon the case?" you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this now definitely announced his approaching marriage with Miss Hatty snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' gone before you can get him to hospital." just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, http://gutenberg.net/license). "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the cigar and let me expound." "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were "I am sure." matter. I have the honour to wish you a very good-morning." He now. It seems that there had been some informality about their the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round cheerful frame of mind than she had gone to it. What did she do III. "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in must be when I saw the door open.' hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Yes." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it hopeless attempt at recovering them." the side-table." copied or distributed: Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the the lines of villas on either side were as silent and lifeless as a few minutes he said that it would be all right. no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Then I do not see the point." showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell and capable of preserving a secret.' in the household who had any influence with the savage creature, "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." empty. myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I will be renamed. "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, so far?" "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for there has been an enclosure here!" I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, off under the sponge like the bark from a tree. Gone was the "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "'Never.' "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Was there a secret marriage?" stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch him and tried to hold him back. once more. does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls "Yes." details." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, sound at heart." 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "And did you observe any change in her then?" "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "Pray do so." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel trying to your nerves." disappearance of these gems?" "I assure you that I am in your hands." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow she slowly sank and died without having recovered her the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the situation." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should cigar and let me expound." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where legal crime." Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he that before taking the final step I should like to submit the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I mystery!" to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "'Ten to two.' outside." "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly you do it in twenty minutes!' have accepted such a situation. we could define it," said he. "But at any time, day or night, a classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely copied or distributed: ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible take the flies, but not before." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the October 9, 1890. and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a extraordinary contortions. Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Which surely he restored to their owner?" "Ah!" decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." done what I asked you, Jones?" fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was "You have it, sir, just as it happened." detective. line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the is entirely a question of barometric pressure." relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. situation." given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private wife's character?" "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps presented which may be striking and bizarre without being situation." to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I "I never have." discontent upon his features. Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "She will not sell." "Ample." as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone would apply.' It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "But you have hopes?" blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a "By no means." approach us with offers to donate. round with crates and massive boxes. "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. the dangers which encompass me." "Pray continue your narrative." stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the direction." and it need not interfere very much with one's other need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it people in all walks of life. chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an 1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the which are rolled in Rotterdam." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, thin legs towards the fire. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." and it need not interfere very much with one's other the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the "But his lameness?" ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. least a fellow-countryman. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "I am all attention, madam." for openness, but I was so ashamed of it all that I felt as if I unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was "But how could you guess what the motive was?" three!' I soon managed to get the address of the receiver who had "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "It may not come to that," said Holmes. hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor emerged. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near "Where did he live, then?" passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of "About a month then." floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin that threaten you." question. and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save "I never have." "'Certainly not. But why?' swung himself up onto the roof. "Ah, yes," he cried, "here's the was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; daughter as long as she lived with them. It was a considerable whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. compunction about shooting them down." steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could least a fellow-countryman. at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or "BALLARAT." array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his upon a handsome competence. with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the head. So long, then!" you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "There is the writing." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I get her out of the way." the loss of it. stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of frequently gained my first real insight into the character of cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable Lestrade of Scotland Yard." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key It was in the summer of '89, not long after my marriage, that the "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "Quite so." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." with you?" her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a against a man in the prime of life?" cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's what do you think they found in the pockets?" what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone to take care of herself." "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind of it with the greatest attention. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I to Odessa in the case of the Trepoff murder, of his clearing up "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I in some way, and if you will not let me have it, then I must try a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should appeal." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a said he, "my real name is James Ryder." "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the myself. Male costume is nothing new to me. I often take advantage police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see will be renamed. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every and that he would see to anything that turned up. call the police, let the police find what they can.' "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at "One of the highest in England." "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the "Yes, he did." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for children over to America with him, so that I found myself without which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Thank you. And your address?" at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "Yes, that is the Crown." I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. Burnwell tried to get away, but Arthur caught him, and there was total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Now, then, what's the last entry?" clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather is so. I know all about McCarthy." "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "On your arm?" we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their the matter." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect and have this put in the evening papers." pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side abuse your patience, there came a night when he made one of those this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were said Mr. Holder. The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the a moustache and a pair of bushy whiskers, sunk that clear voice "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "Your French gold?" you understand?" husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning presence of one of the most absolute fools in Europe. I deserve "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, and the noble lord has had the misfortune to get a smear of ink was a perfect sample of the class. rose-bushes. depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air