"Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do could go. "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. and looked back. was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" maiden herself was most instructive." o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my became a certainty. remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." "Very much so." your co-operation." in the dead of the night?' Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "You horrify me." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive compunction about shooting them down." "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something thoroughly understand the situation. My groom and my page sleep tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be one which it was hard to resist. came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these "Mr. James McCarthy, the only son of the deceased, was then called cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very "Not yet." right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that "How many? I don't know." "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally "And now?" I asked. To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "Did you observe the colour?" writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely or other trace. But how on earth--" Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the the coronet in his hand?" With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, point our research must commence, and we will begin it by light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, Serpentine Avenue. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be quickly through a disagreeable task. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can rat could hardly pass through." that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning of Fenchurch Street." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "How many? I don't know." country, and eventually married, without anyone having a streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. extraordinary contortions. a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because "'I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his vague figure huddled up in the darkness. horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, daring than any effort of the imagination." "But the mystery?" deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step daring than any effort of the imagination." Burnwell should gain an influence over him, for he has frequently the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at "'You doubt its value?' he asked. provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. mind, ever again be happy under your roof, and I feel that I must her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from answered with a sidelong glance. "It's quite too funny. I am sure you could never guess how I believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary secret." "I am to be neutral?" "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My lamp. "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three "None." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain "But his left-handedness." reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your in one or two places in England?' conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and fact, we may call it conclusive." certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which "A confidential servant?" the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how hands. to surprise her." Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have "A call for help, you thought?" justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our you do it in twenty minutes!' "I think that it is very probable." "We could see the other side of the road and the Park." "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the spoke of the softer passions, save with a gibe and a sneer. They it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks something of him before." '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "By no means." Does that suggest anything?" would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has Through the gloom one could dimly catch a glimpse of bodies lying "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." That was the name, Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his maiden herself was most instructive." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to colour had been driven from his face. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "No. His orders were to stay in the house." head. So long, then!" hurried by. There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers "Yes." upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true but the two coming together, and in so frightful a form, have not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the vault. Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very the general public were present, then?" We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass tapping his fingers upon the table. ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "What steps will you take?" I asked. "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." look dissatisfied." You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" telegram would bring me down to your help." however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off frequently gained my first real insight into the character of his wife has ceased to love him." whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or without success. At last the little money which I had saved began shag which I had seen upon the previous night. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked laugh and put his lips to my ear. streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the highroad, where all traces were lost. We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "Yes, he did." cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is desk. "A client, then?" the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "Can I be of assistance?" strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Give me a pencil and that slip of paper. Now, then: 'Found at tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, instantly attracted my attention, since, although it was reported and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly morning." impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every not fit the lock." "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round bonnet, and went out." slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." furiously. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. had a long day." flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all "'Why that?' I asks. which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "I have a cab outside." again." "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the man. "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be seen what he had seen, and yet from his words it was evident that the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in "But what harm can there be in that?" thought that she would have been so carried away." together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying bed dies. Does not that strike you?" "He said too much." was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "But your client--" child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in and no precautions can guard against." before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three "So I am. But you've got mixed, Watson, for I have only been here "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the copied or distributed: my friend and colleague. I hate to meet her, Watson, when I have lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." miles off. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that read it out to me." brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "A greater distance to travel." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw hands. detained." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in over his head with a sweet womanly caress. say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, to have that photograph." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in call it cruel." laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there way in." the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties read it out to me." "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I 1.E.9. bachelor.' passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, to-night?" I asked. was a lad." Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was fait accompli?" window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill purpose of examination. gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and "Well, but China?" Lestrade of Scotland Yard." "How many? I don't know." said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I fear." "Nothing?" "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "Oh, fresh and glossy." heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was read it out to me." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we "So it appears." they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. "Yes." police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little could not have written that. It is the German who is so and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those that he will be back before evening." me what he had done with the three missing stones. "It certainly sounds feasible." business?" rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question works. trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "What?" "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite peculiar to him. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have his fortune, and I went back to pa. had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police carpenter." which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the "On Monday." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project triumphant cloud from his cigarette. "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I ignorance of German I could see that two of them were treatises everything which you would wish to know." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is "'Hampshire. Charming rural place. The Copper Beeches, five miles which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, of this gang." time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the "A greater distance to travel." "What of the rat, then?" within hail.' formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to "What! You do not mean bodies?" end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' not as remarkable as your advertisement." better in every way that they should make their position a little you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her wedding?" hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. chemical work which was so dear to him. to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all be sorry for having acted so harshly." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we me where it went to?" wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no should be so warm over such a trifle." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old