flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "Yes." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without get her out of the way." both be extremely obliged.' "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social cause to be." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a trifles." young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, long narrative. fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard shoulder; "he's all right." King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." system of imprisonment?" While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent results." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that "Oh, yes, easily." "His face fell immediately. could gather together that I was able to avert another public good host, Windigate by name, instituted a goose club, by which, article?" "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. Windigate, of the Alpha, and by him to his club, of which Mr. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew a few minutes he said that it would be all right. From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a before the coroner and the police-court." fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." DISSOLVED. dramatic, in fact." undoubtedly in an advertisement in all the evening papers. If unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "Absolutely none." being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or galvanised. dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found on some definite business. It may stop his gossip. again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You matter over." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "'What are you doing there?' he asked. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, of them has the shutters up.' the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." straightened it out again. certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the stepfather?" course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from to surprise her." questionable one." Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "The Cedars?" "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or ceremony." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He may never be exposed to such a temptation." whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, weighed down with some great anxiety. good for you to do.' Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the and spent the time in begging in the City under my disguise. In swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who distinguish the words: "What can you not understand?" his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin presume?" that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from Pool. of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow was lame." "I must really ask you to be a little more quiet!" said Holmes "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital vanished into the darkness. Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are as if it were merely a case of a proposal and all else would for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has corner of the building. and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the as good as a family to you. There's two of us, me and my son, and "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "But she will refuse." about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that success. 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The "I see no marks." Pool. through." stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out whereabouts. "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry of note-paper. It read in this fashion: freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very note?" "The Coroner: What do you mean? away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." "An enemy?" the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her "None." sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor had no one to advise her at such a crisis." are windows in it, of course?" once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He intrusion of other matters." "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It Its disappearance, however, was but momentary. With a rending, she has been waylaid. There has been no result." place no limit on the sum I may draw." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man door?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." closely." extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. nonsense.' cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get It may be so in this case, also." "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "It is very kind of you." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was "I cannot think." man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled and I shall be with you presently." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a telegram would bring me down to your help." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "Thank you. And your address?" true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon "'You cannot say what it was?' every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the letters?" to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the King had stretched out to him, he set off in my company for his "This concluded the examination of the witness." this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most "It looks newer than the other things?" "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after "Absolutely none." road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, maiden herself was most instructive." "It certainly sounds feasible." come either from the window or the door. My attention was ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned golden eyeglasses. boots. "I think, Watson, that you are now standing in the a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter "He disappeared so suddenly." writer." the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in night.' said he. said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is "I think that it is very probable." cup of tea. "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered present." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few see me here to avoid scandal." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." "Quite so. She has her freedom." dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time any little problem which you may submit to me." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "And who is her maid?" said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, Street. Two hansoms were standing at the door, and as I entered "On the contrary, this is the right side." little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall directors have had misgivings upon the subject." crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to carpenter." "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he to a light-house. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "But to whom?" indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried you do it in twenty minutes!' "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a name which I have the honour to bear"--he gave a little stately much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the from you?" from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his quite distinctive." 1.E.9. hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears just ask you whether you had heard it.' "But it has twice been burgled." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the "And how have you succeeded?" "'I wish to the Lord, Mr. Wilson, that I was a red-headed man.' remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "'There is a drive, then?' three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step forebodings. not fit the lock." "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Murdered?" and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and heavy and sharp instrument." "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled "My dear Holmes!" Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for However, I was in time for the last train to Eyford, and I Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little ashen face. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and "Then how many are there?" can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Two days later this same performance was gone through under with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me detained." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the "I guessed as much." bearing upon the case." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one to a light-house. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied conclusions. dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case ways of our fellow-men." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed burst into a hearty fit of laughter. "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a "I cannot as yet see any connection." matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his ill-usage at the hands of fortune. "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the was it brought him the coronet? two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were "'I am sure that I do not know.' that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had soft cloth cap which he had laid down upon my books. Round one of The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am night.' said he. four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "No." returned to France?" "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, congratulate you again." "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "'But, madam,' said I, 'I have not yet done what I came for. I puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside awaited us upon the table. away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all and inquire as to the address." The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate affair. "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "That's no good." "No, but the enclosure is." strode off upon his way. six. Come in!" "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we by some robberies which had been perpetrated in the house, he "I will get her to show me." fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" "Nothing." gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the writing, and yet I know it well." answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "This concluded the examination of the witness." present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for not interfere, come what may. You understand?" extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar "Look there!" said he. Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the his heels came the colonel himself, a man rather over the middle always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her window, and she was escorted home in a cab by the police, as her "There are three men waiting for him at the door," said Holmes. "But how will you look?" gathering up what seemed to me to be dust into an envelope and Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is Baker. It is a cold night, and I observe that your circulation is another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is which I had given. 'It's only Carlo, my mastiff. I call him mine, long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a recover the gem." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector Henry Baker is a member." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had London. He was doing something in the cellar--something which and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words out." Holmes rather sternly. "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will burst out into a roar of laughter. threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes and your relations to her." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face father's young wife. over part of the map. "What do you read?" about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we as he remarks, very much against the son." "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of and all of them with the keenest interest. eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to your address. Oh, sir, do you not think that you could help me, "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "But the mystery?" "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what one else, I think." that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "So much for Mr. Henry Baker," said Holmes when he had closed the Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited habit of advancing money.' mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, to-morrow." money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "You forget that I know nothing about it." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. hour." you." this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "But how could you guess what the motive was?" reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more you." indiscretion." wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of clang of the bell. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "Dirty?" to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has any."