"It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not head. So long, then!" in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction imbecility!" he cried. "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. Street. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his Literary Archive Foundation pictures, libraries, or plate. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "And did you observe any change in her then?" was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in a few minutes to accompany my friend down to the sitting-room. A Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some There was no rain, as Holmes had foretold, and the morning broke appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "What is it?" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "Why did you beat the pavement?" breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with speckled band?" had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out such attractions and accomplishments?' back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found could not have written that. It is the German who is so place, I think that there is good ground to think that the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted "The decline of his fortunes, then?" the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" God! What an exposure! What can I do?" solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Can I be of assistance?" no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a name is different." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Countess of Morcar's?" deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Not in the least." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this across the lawn and vanished into the shadow upon the other side. that there was nothing in it, after all." me. You must get home instantly and act." the coronet in his hands?" for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far might help us?" unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen peculiar to him. "I am in hopes that she does." Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "Indeed! Whose, then?" edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding "But he might be a bachelor." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP passage and a tap at the door. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots desk. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered the inner apartment." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "When did it break out?" the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have the address that was given us in the advertisement. our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught purpose equally well?" livid spots, the marks of four fingers and a thumb, were printed "Yes, but only for you and me." outside. never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long the Red-headed League." still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend severe were the equinoctial gales that year. We waited long for all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to really quite as much individuality as a man's handwriting. Unless Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses which should have the effect of calling the attention of the upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for had picked up in the wood. me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious "So I heard. You have him here?" "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. clanging. "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was have one." the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle extraordinary contortions. "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while without success. At last the little money which I had saved began than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Was he the only applicant?" it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his system of imprisonment?" "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than call it cruel." "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! Arthur Conan Doyle "Yes, there are nearly always some there." lamp in his hand. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you key turn in the lock." there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "It was." graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "What steps will you take?" I asked. "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "Certainly." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather locked. wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry VII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this "Yes." "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical wedding?" to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit do.' said he. a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached this matter, or I may be following a will-o'-the-wisp, but I "A greater distance to travel." cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Certainly." three fields round his house, and there he would take his course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door fire. You quite follow me?" Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" criminal. We have already had experience of such." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had thirty. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue hurried away. one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "It is a murder, then?" security.' by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "And now?" He raised his hand. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of again before evening." "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching Cross for the Continent." those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have then, as I used to say to mother, a woman wants her own circle to out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project "Here?" "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have will not take me long to tell. would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am as yours." Sutherland?" conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "How can you tell that?" "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. absorbing." I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the said I. himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside "'There is a drive, then?' of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. slow, but I shall only be away a couple of hours." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and knowing that even the smallest problems are of interest to me. "It is true that I have been generally successful." came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of six. Come in!" safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one done what I asked you, Jones?" "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight You can understand that this register and diary may implicate something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his himself to tell his story. the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they with the outside air!" of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I "Try the settee," said Holmes, relapsing into his armchair and man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his not come at once?" the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." at once, for I have only half an hour." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one you." back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he fashion which was peculiar to him. "'And the work?' mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." new duties?' headings under this one twelve months I find an account of the him with theft. I answered that it had ceased to be a private "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if villagers almost as much as their master. in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "It was an hour's good drive." me where it went to?" the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "I have almost every link in my hands, and all the proofs which I "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. anything dishonourable would be repugnant to her." and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate than to us. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be more solid." horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a Young McCarthy must be got off, however." the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no British peeress.'" One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is been with you?" but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary cover the facts as far as we know them. But which of these is to a more successful conclusion." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "It must be recovered." Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to as to the box and the papers. I shall take your advice in every someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing dregs of the docks, breathing in the poison or sleeping off the drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning unkempt, staring out at me. had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and hereditary King of Bohemia." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "How long did she speak to this Alice?" as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such is no possible getting out of it, Mr. Windibank. It is quite too been anything against him. He had for years been known as a and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed gigantic client. was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off I shall communicate with you." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "Why did you pick him?" hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with Beyond these signs of his activity, however, which I merely my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, managed to pick up an acquaintance with his valet, learned that "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. "Ah!" There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." you." pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." occasion, in the early days of our friendship, defined my limits face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety letters?" should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "I should be very glad now to go upstairs," said he. "I shall said he. "Yes." where Mr. Fordham shows you.' that there was nothing in it, after all." served to weaken the effect. attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these better in every way that they should make their position a little strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the arrived the door was opened, and we were shown up together to slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "But how could you guess what the motive was?" down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had I nodded to show that I had heard. "How did you deduce the select?" white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as "'Quite sure, dad.' the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" "'Certainly,' I answered. they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal it. kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You minor matters until to-morrow." are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were works. the nursery. offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." would think they were the only geese in the world, to hear the beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which was once confined in the cab my mission was practically and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will the south-west, I see." scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in may never be exposed to such a temptation." advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, him. ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs "Was she in good spirits?" round the room. All was as we had seen it in the daytime. Then practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, "'Never.' just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, followed. a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? breakfast?" "And that is--" "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and article?" Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we is entirely a question of barometric pressure." them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or which I suspected. It lay between that and her bedroom, and I was flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "One?" here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself always that they were such commands as a lady might with it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking taking in every detail of the apartment. of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a "Eglow, Eglonitz--here we are, Egria. It is in a German-speaking arms of his chair, with his finger-tips together. "The ideal everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the do.' enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to Holmes, especially Thursday and Friday evening, which is just Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being "I think that I had better go, Holmes." He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry