located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." British peeress.'" down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Not him." is acting for the best. observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet "But she will refuse." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. "To an end?" gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, true." seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford But Holmes shook his head gravely. see a sister of mine apply for." investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a ready to-morrow?' "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' "Yes, sir." us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late push her way in, uttering very abusive expressions towards my fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, the devil!" I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point served to weaken the effect. assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, then?" standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, "'And how far from the edge of the wood?' compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are not come at once?" "What do you make of that, Watson?" were wasted." beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly His smile broadened. chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and "'And what salary do you ask?' fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore "What is it?" "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, during our short interview, but I am afraid that I must remain "What I expected to see." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm the Red-headed League." wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the read over the extraordinary announcement. I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. "And that is--" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in "In which, sir?" It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so some harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't him and tried to hold him back. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not means taking possession of that which another person has a prior cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Was he the only applicant?" "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" in one or two places in England?' "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "This concluded the examination of the witness." "If I tell her she will not believe me. You may remember the old (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across back to my heart. "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for conversation I have gathered that they have been married about he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." "'Yes, it was gone.' these bleak autumnal evenings." Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from "I have seen the police." "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She to enter through the window when out from a clump of laurel woven round him. "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from over here." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the redistribution. of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with breakfast and whispered something to her husband. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the 'please.'" "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You "I guessed as much." "I have my revolver," said I. be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to across it from eye to chin, and by its contraction had turned up The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your beg that you will break it off." "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on bonnet, and went out." slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any "Well." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue is acting for the best. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two came talking something or other about Lord St. Simon to putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in that, and I came down." politicians who had been sent down from the North. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the to his chemical studies. and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told depend upon your compliance." was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway you. Now," he said as he turned hungrily on the simple fare that "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly "What! Had he lost his wife?" to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" morning." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." "Then I can wait in the next room." the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an its fulfilment, in Dundee it was only some three or four days. promised to bring home. arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal lamp. "'Why that?' I asks. you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am opened the door, and slipped through. an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in "No bad?" held up the lantern and gazed about him. "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong at the inquest on Tuesday, he was on Wednesday brought before the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's it." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend "None. Neville wrote those words." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these will he say when he returns?" "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my opened the door, and slipped through. "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "It certainly sounds feasible." "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining to go into your room and bar your shutters?" daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong served to weaken the effect. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an the window, rose as we entered. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Yes." been able to understand it, in a very few words. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In ordinary clothes on?" "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business "What of the rat, then?" found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your "No more words. Get out!" routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. At first it was but a lurid spark upon the stone pavement. Then "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted hands. brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It to-night?" I asked. A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked made his money." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from that?' "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "Yes, he did." eavesdroppers?' "'About the same.' stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "Yes." "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little "Very truly yours, The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and go back?" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, definite end. "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will I shall communicate with you." I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Not particularly." "'You shall learn nothing from me,' said he with a passion such "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" yet." young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was weapon." other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he of." black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that discontent upon his features. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able to a light-house. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low relation between them, and what the object of his repeated is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "I cannot tell." Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our him. "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps would be at St. George's, Hanover Square, that only half a dozen Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have "What shall I do?" "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. is familiar to every man who goes much to the City. He is a 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." union?" "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his deepest thought. Suddenly, however, he started, tapped me on the Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent trade-mark upon them. It is well thought of!" "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the "And the cigar-holder?" "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are face and glided from the room. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at "Certainly, sir," said Baker, who had risen and tucked his newly "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left been anything against him. He had for years been known as a VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers people in all walks of life. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can His smile broadened. were quarrels, and this, I am sure, was one of them." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the once more. association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and "But not more so than I to find you." "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were husband's writing, madam." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." that before taking the final step I should like to submit the "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, layers of lead foil. Our reserve of bullion is much larger at here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my he. seem to you to be relevant or not." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "And did you observe any change in her then?" that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a to a more successful conclusion." woven round him. gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which dramatic, in fact." that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had I leave." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely read it out to me." shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Thank you. And your address?" said I. contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we crowd. go from here to the Strand." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, my friend's incisive reasoning. "What do you make of that, Watson?" "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus "'Oh, no.' "Of Friday, June 19th." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a highly," said Holmes. unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less see me here to avoid scandal." was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever burden to them, and so they have the use of the money just while alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. were unconscious?" called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and