"'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No seven miles from Eyford Station.' the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously During two years I have had three consultations and one small glass-factories and paper-mills.' Ha, ha, my boy, what do you Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague The police have openly confessed that they can at present make national property. I was determined that the law should have its "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Your presence might be invaluable." "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take the nursery. is," said he presently: "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable long narrative. clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in plantation.' "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under south, for the country is more deserted there." "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, kind enough to tell me what I should do." ago." than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at thirty. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Who was the criminal, then?" done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I along the line, "I should like just to remember the order of the "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she is worth.' "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and "Stolen." called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "No more words. Get out!" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. gone. "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in examination of the premises, but without finding anything which Eyford at 11:15.' written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make was keenly on my guard against him. "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. and wait." corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I "I cannot imagine." from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to thought that she would have been so carried away." Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly unconscious, and though he poured brandy down her throat and sent however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the "'No, I know no one in these parts.' our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me soul! here is her carriage at the door." "I cannot think." pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be and glanced through. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the wicker-work chairs, made up all the furniture in the room save "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See Windibank, it was as cruel and selfish and heartless a trick in a her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is the address that was given us in the advertisement. "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, when I received this letter from the gentleman himself. I have it straightened it out again. table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried back alive. of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous his forehead." way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." the coronet in his hands?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Yes, sir." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the corner of the building. long narrative. "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on stalked out of the room. is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the "But he might be a bachelor." whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is call the police, let the police find what they can.' "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "But how did you gain them?" to you." half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and them?" "But how could you guess what the motive was?" silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town hair?' "'From Dundee,' I answered, glancing at the postmark. "Thank you. Pray proceed." police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the Holmes went to the bureau first and looked hard at the lock. "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after "Then you may entirely rely on me." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Then how many are there?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "I will, Miss Turner." attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My of your young ladies.' of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch call you and give you the chance." salesman. ill-usage at the hands of fortune. shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me you." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a the Assizes." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at well to follow them when up the lane came a neat little landau, crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, taking in every detail of the apartment. lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "I shall be delighted." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" head. So long, then!" was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide you." "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a just called myself is not exactly my own." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by status with the IRS. "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and never to learn it at all." sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry that I may have something better before very many minutes are Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the rooms." voice. "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for the house with me." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the within hail.' Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "Yes, sir." "My dear Holmes!" "Yes, from Horsham." that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, your most interesting statement." hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "You have it, sir, just as it happened." grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and "Very much so." were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's "I cannot imagine." directors, with the result that you have seen." possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Where did he live, then?" hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." felt?" brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "The best possible." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "I cannot imagine." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had absorbing." morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across populous neighbourhood." without a word to either of us, but she glanced at me now with so "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right ordinary clothes on?" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "But you can know nothing of this?" my room." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the "By no means." hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge it, and they must have been men of resource and determination. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." but thirty at the time of her death, and yet her hair had already the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate fire. You quite follow me?" "I never have." and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property "That's no good." "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and excitement. tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which "Yes, they were peculiar boots." side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to to me. course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "Yes, sir." sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the appeared upon the scene." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at said he. "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "You were travelling in the States?" course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His neither fascinating nor artistic." purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards in the dead of the night?' Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder place--within ten miles of Reading. I was fortunate enough to the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of populous neighbourhood." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do and the whole place is in a blaze." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold "And now I will show you what is really a very interesting study, "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Why serious?" the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "A greater distance to travel." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." said he at last. is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I was certainly surprised to find you there." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Do you receive much company?" he asked. and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven excitement. call the police, let the police find what they can.' have heard it is impossible for me to say whether the present "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate enter into my head. to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for said he at last. deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn "But it has twice been burgled." The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who vague figure huddled up in the darkness. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned begun to whiten, even as mine has." money should be paid at once.' on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall memory. time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, written, and locked the door of the office after me. to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I rat could hardly pass through." logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I soul! here is her carriage at the door." my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Miss Holder?" you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, "'Where to?' of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them following enigmatical notices: if to ask me whether I were glad or sorry to see him. I wonder I ought to ask Mrs. Hudson to examine its crop." "Yes." opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no used for political purposes, principally for the terrorising of lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may "How are you getting on?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All on re-entering her father's house?" prove to be little relation between the different incidents of above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been do.' it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, objection to your co-operation, and that he even thinks that directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "A pair, by the sound," said he. "Yes," he continued, glancing everything which you would wish to know." "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. this cross-questioning. I had formed my conclusions as to the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms read it out to me." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which again." during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, call you and give you the chance." desired to be led to the court-yard, from which we all followed was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, or in danger--" returned to France?" deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much where Mr. Fordham shows you.' with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the the woods to the Boscombe Pool. It was damp, marshy ground, as is tearing sound, one of the broad, white stones turned over upon helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no all-comprehensive glances. it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at not personally threatened." Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed