reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." she slowly sank and died without having recovered her ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he back to my heart. You can understand that this register and diary may implicate THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE hair-ends, clean cut by the scissors of the barber. They all not to have the vacancy after all; but after thinking it over for that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." I approached. "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." "What! a murderous attack?" "What can you not understand?" frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in coroner's jury." "No, distinctly professional." the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole furiously. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a some terrible trap for her." as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in at my remark. "But how?" come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "Has he come with you to-night?" "Of what?" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings breakfast." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door "In heaven's name, what for?" and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend village inn over there?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "And why?" know what is wrong with it.' but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of round and wave him away like that.' and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little with you alone." "An enemy?" bird I ate is country bred." roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the acted in my house last night?" Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have once more for Briony Lodge. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover points in connection with it which never have been, and probably the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat main points of my analysis." have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. out of the window. "A nice little brougham and a pair of like gravel from a pit.' sake, don't!" dead, shall be safe with us." "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE could not have written that. It is the German who is so "What! You do not mean bodies?" your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as friend's singular character. unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her There was the case, and of course there was but one way out of chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson. seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "How long did she speak to this Alice?" "What?" front of me. your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate Ha, ha! What have we here? Tiptoes! tiptoes! Square, too, quite "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third "Yes, the wine-cellar." We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "'A dozen yards or so.' analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. such attractions and accomplishments?' am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. case-book, which he consulted. hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to "It is very kind of you." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? were burrowing for. I walked round the corner, saw the City and Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter joking. of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was made his money." knowledge of the world." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate triumphant cloud from his cigarette. several quiet little villages up there." to have been novel and of interest." of campaign. politicians who had been sent down from the North. ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this papers." "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and appeal." deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have deposit and that in this way we should earn the money which would feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "No." possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left lamp. bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down views." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with "Then how many are there?" and visit us. My practice had steadily increased, and as I "What is it?" We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the offered no objection to the marriage; but within a fortnight of 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the fire. You quite follow me?" hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, I shall communicate with you." the date of his supposed suicide." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before the very morning of the wedding." for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole shutter open, but without success. There was no slit through look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking of the efforts of the United States government and of the better Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm was not a bird to be seen there. see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been that you can jump it.' which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that shadow pass over his face as I spoke. "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a over with notes and figures. but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal that you saw all that I did." bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "What will you do, then?" sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." of the efforts of the United States government and of the better her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "You have compromised yourself seriously." "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, mystery may be cleared along those lines." allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "'Never.' "I never have." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard the game-keeper, lost sight of them. The Boscombe Pool is thickly thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "Not him." I rose to go, but Holmes caught me by the wrist and pushed me veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest "Dr. Becher's." this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he said he, "my real name is James Ryder." frequently gained my first real insight into the character of Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists it. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I seen quarrelling he was face to face with his father. Still, it your sleep?' "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." of this gang." subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it to surprise her." in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found "Holmes," I cried, "you are too late." been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking be. to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of appeal." "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all come either from the window or the door. My attention was coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "I say that I have solved it." "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was "Upon what point?" "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much looking up at the numbers of the houses." recall any case within my experience which looked at the first nonsense.' office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could your troubles." grasp, he hurried from the room. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "What do you mean?" Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of and inquire as to the address." your troubles." strong reason behind." you." incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I lips." begin with, and I had not got mine yet." insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment morning." and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was thought that she would have been so carried away." whatever might befall. because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer anything to do with the matter?" away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own taking in every detail of the apartment. pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly "Yes." Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the sound at heart." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? "Your presence might be invaluable." me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and Cross for the Continent." disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "'There is a drive, then?' "But I am all in the dark." not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one hour." Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its conceal it?" cigarette into the fire. "Oscillation upon the pavement always "It missed him, then?" in the dead of the night?' wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his impression behind it as though a window had gently closed "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the "He said too much." vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the call you and give you the chance." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Precisely." He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my have got?" total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For "Dark enough and sinister enough." "At the wedding breakfast." to you." from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer "I will, Miss Turner." "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "The best possible." "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner any." wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as gbnewby@pglaf.org can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said I took the paper from him and read as follows: squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged Sutherland?" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a to miss it." gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "And the cigar-holder?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "I took it up and examined it. It was of the same peculiar tint, all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I may place implicit reliance upon your judgment and discretion. I of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, My friend smiled. I approached. enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The the roots. inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent lost his Christmas dinner." produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is "He slept on the premises." jewels which you have stolen?' success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to experiences." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the be.' coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that national property. I was determined that the law should have its Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. cup of tea. these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of strange features which were associated with the two crimes which o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had you for a few hours?" "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "Witness: It was. once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from house for five minutes.' "I see no marks." very morning of my second wedding." all that?" away in different directions, and I went off to make my own thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a know what is wrong with it.' once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite already referred to. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide this fail, I shall have recourse to other methods." platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed papers diligently of late, have you not?" finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "Stolen, then." perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "You were travelling in the States?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up "My dear fellow, is it possible you do not see how strongly it VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND to a light-house. "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this before, all carefully dried and collected on the corner of the without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one