submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in I shall communicate with you." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like to go into your room and bar your shutters?" not, dad?" she asked. be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." this poor creature." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." "My private note-paper." "She told me to ask you." hand when I mentioned it. "Data! data! data!" he cried "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "'Quite sure, dad.' detective. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which this Miss Turner." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some Leadenhall Street--and--" demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which and the whole place is in a blaze." then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other Holmes?" he asked. "How did you know, for example, that I did "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood or other trace. But how on earth--" where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in "Where, then, is my wife?" a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Was the window open?" see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very have not had my rubber." also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was "Two days later this same performance was gone through under success. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a place of silver." "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he threw himself down with his face to the pillow. "Away we went then, and we drove for at least an hour. Colonel Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, the very letters. But what is this written above them?' registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can photograph?" Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, Where does the thing come from?' was not a bird to be seen there. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "A thing like a cleaver," said he. practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of earn at typewriting. It brings me twopence a sheet, and I can young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked my secret was safe in his possession. "How did he come?" "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious you found me to-night--and running through the front room she That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "But how did you gain them?" "Where, then, is my wife?" might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no carriage. It was a chestnut." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric place of silver." the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. upon record that severe reasoning from cause to effect which is my friend's incisive reasoning. These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the as the one I chose?' but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing that he has suffered." and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was chance." in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a directors have had misgivings upon the subject." important." http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg newspaper selections." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice said I. brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, noting anything else of interest. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my My friend was an enthusiastic musician, being himself not only a "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a his knees, staring into the fire. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." "Why, what do you mean?" with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of that the gas is not laid on in his house?" "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss Rucastle seemed to be a very kind, good-natured man. Is it not "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to people don't know." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am her hands with a despairing gesture, and vanished as suddenly and "'Look in here!' said Mr. Rucastle, showing me a slit between two "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was http://gutenberg.net/license). "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the back into the street. circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' bed dies. Does not that strike you?" even persuaded him to forgo his Bohemian habits so far as to come room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, its side and left a square, gaping hole, through which streamed old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, the back of one of the wharves. Between the wharf and the bedroom "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For know quite what to do, and I should value your advice. Light a full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an "I know where it is." McCarthy." gone. position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place where we are going." closing the door. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that news of the "Lone Star" of Savannah, but none ever reached us. We alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "Bought." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me several quiet little villages up there." before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "Awake, Watson?" he asked. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced "And how?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all to his chemical studies. the ceiling. back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call locked." than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking "Yesterday." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can Our client of the morning had hurried forward to meet us with a liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. without observing him. A shock of orange hair, a pale face The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in sat when a sudden ejaculation caused me to wake up, and I found passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "It is possible." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged But Holmes shook his head gravely. age, but neither of them had wives living. They appear to have standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "And why?" "Will you go?" "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. where she found matters as described by the last witness. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in strength in the others." "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "It surprised me." tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small done what I asked you, Jones?" touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was would apply.' "But of what society?" sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep carried out of court." for the market.' cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an without success. At last the little money which I had saved began exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "It is very kind of you." on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings within hail.' so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every situation." never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then suggested at once that there must be a communication between the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant locked. Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg "We have tried and failed." "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite to have been novel and of interest." "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to simpler, for the bigger the crime the more obvious, as a rule, is "One of his hands." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after and capable of preserving a secret.' values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step himself and earn twice what I am able to give him. But, after "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, direction." Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It are windows in it, of course?" "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name room had already been engaged for us. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has strong and stiff." his forehead." the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now allowance, that he might settle his debts of honour. He tried with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other became a certainty. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a have not had my rubber." sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to coat-tails." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. be there in time for your coming." Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all man. I know him from the photograph." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a "Whose house is it?" effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should it right.' "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked me what he had done with the three missing stones. "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "I was not and am not sure which; but I knew that the ship must until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. The note was undated, and without either signature or address. second window is the one that I jumped from." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon "You forget that I know nothing about it." knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was "Then I can wait in the next room." "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' Again a startled look came over the somewhat vacuous face of Miss lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily the running down." "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "And you can do nothing until then?" given her notice, but there, again, I fail to see how you work it the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy read it out to me." wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" all that?" "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was at a side door. the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "There are none." "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of suggested at once that there must be a communication between the "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a "Eh? What was that?" A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic an unmarried one reaches for her jewel-box. Now it was clear to "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton in the neighbourhood, however, and among them Miss Turner, the drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE children over to America with him, so that I found myself without questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered placed his cuttings. make me his representative both with the servants and with the begin with, and I had not got mine yet." appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at telegram would bring me down to your help." Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the there has been an enclosure here!" Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed key turn in the lock." through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few gigantic client. and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He take the flies, but not before." this poor creature." "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again believe that I should never have any practice at all. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait second window is the one that I jumped from." you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual he bowed and left the room without another word. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the not, dad?" she asked. walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "None." that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with kindly on the shoulder. drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "Married! When?" of your young ladies.' that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "By no means." association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some "What! You do not mean bodies?" London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in "Absolutely?" you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly "No legal papers or certificates?" Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to certainly among the most singular that I have ever listened to. him and tried to hold him back. in this note: week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had the dangers which encompass me." mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill so.' Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and written, and locked the door of the office after me. therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the his wife has ceased to love him." be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some enough to aid us in our search." last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I to surprise her." You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." dates and names. "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the "And for present expenses?"