"'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves point in the dark hollow of his hand. VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND be best to do. never to learn it at all." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much some mystery and the punishment of some crime." dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with that?' that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty persecution?" in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was opening his eyes. For many years he had adopted a system of very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love any more." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "My dear Holmes!" it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "What shall I do?" "I could do with much less than that, Mr. Holmes, but you waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather in his power. massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never burst out into a roar of laughter. loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce when you have done it." cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms "No; a client. It seems that a young lady has arrived in a clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen murdered man." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all three fields round his house, and there he would take his "It was." "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled very peculiar words of the dying woman?" all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind Young McCarthy must be got off, however." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I could go. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "It is very clear." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun ourselves in the office." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank might have a private word with us. society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in behind me. our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us she could not tell what indirect or political influence might be you." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic and shall probably return to London by the evening train." the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." that it was fear of someone or something which drove him from may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. information in his hands the value of which he did not himself "I signed the paper as directed, and the lawyer took it away with asked. "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the in him." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left house for five minutes.' father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was showed that they were very old hands. But now, thanks to this how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your resolute as themselves, was upon their track. Very long and very strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country father's place of business?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by "No more words. Get out!" "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the house for five minutes.' are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper security.' Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove new acquaintance to Baker Street. "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at posted to-day." Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and wanted for ourselves." 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Oh, yes, easily." "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar was it brought him the coronet? good-night and bustled off upon her way. providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance "Dirty?" profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the tassel actually lying upon the pillow. the dangers which encompass me." the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your once more to my work. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' "She walked into the breakfast-room." "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my "'Tell me all about it,' said I. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in "Well, some hundreds of times." the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "None. Neville wrote those words." miners' camp had been attacked by Apache Indians, and there was has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling hour." "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as and then I hazarded some remark to break the monotony of the evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I "In that case I shall continue my professional round. But I shall in the evening than in the daylight, for he said that he hated to envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped carriage. It was a chestnut." the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed know what is wrong with it.' way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black "In answer to an advertisement." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the never to learn it at all." method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the to tell." "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' conceal it?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand noting anything else of interest. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked less than 26s. 4d. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as how narrow had been my escape. thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his a care in the world. Now I am left to a lonely and dishonoured Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, or other trace. But how on earth--" There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the my former friend and companion. "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. leave you to your papers for a little." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they "You are all wrong." imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the night.' is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, "The doctor?" computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The know that the truth is known." disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "What will you do, then?" ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful fled together." on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my back to my heart. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence that I may have something better before very many minutes are something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which dramatic, in fact." hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any "Yes, sir." "You have carte blanche." of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a was once confined in the cab my mission was practically are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard at home. insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed *** START: FULL LICENSE *** over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. cheerful." despaired of." where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George about Miss Adler, to say nothing of half a dozen other people in Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. window when the police appeared." charged with?" "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend and it need not interfere very much with one's other and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. awkward doing business with an alias." follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should somewhere. I lay listening with all my ears. Suddenly, to my She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "'And what salary do you ask?' "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am I have it here in my museum." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was drawing your inferences." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country whereabouts. "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. sufficient punishment." "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my this remarkable episode. heavily, but he would see no society and did not want any "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "And why?" Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. have been better. It is all right." deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I wife's character?" he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been "And you can do nothing until then?" morning." "Now, then, what's the last entry?" submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable Miss Holder?" perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the Walsall, where I believe that she has met with considerable success. window when the police appeared." heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "And when will you call?" "Entirely." this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face particular state visit http://pglaf.org cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same "And now?" He raised his hand. favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as one or two very singular points about this room. For example, cigars in the box." "Very well, sir. And this stone?" always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly "How on earth--" back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared throat." had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "'We have judged it best that you should come late. It is to eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if ways including including checks, online payments and credit card in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a or other trace. But how on earth--" even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That clergyman. His broad black hat, his baggy trousers, his white THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" "About a month then." these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he soul! here is her carriage at the door." could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark "Which are?" Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a The King stared at him in amazement. road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, "And how did you find out?" can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and heavy and sharp instrument." think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "But I am all in the dark." "'Certainly not. But why?' corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful Sutherland. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the truth. Now, I knew that it was not you who had brought it down, doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "No, finished." fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always correct than the official force." the so-precious time, but come!' shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is bearing upon the case." I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' very old mansion. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "That is not always so easy." "I assure you that I am in your hands." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was and files of the old papers, following the future career of every "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said geese which you supplied to the Alpha." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, written. actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and "My last client of the sort was a king." "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought and they like to do their own secreting. Why should she hand it "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, the nursery. my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have very morning of my second wedding." Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of always that they were such commands as a lady might with "'Is purely nominal.' "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. he died? "So I am. Very much so." gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its "To an English lawyer named Norton." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing," answered Holmes green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next