"Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the held up the lantern and gazed about him. to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' must compliment you." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a back into the street. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards and wait." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and possibility of something of the sort, and I had two police compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "And so do I. It is precisely for that reason that we are going importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came "You are all wrong." an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of "Certainly." Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see gone. him to go away.' "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. your sleep?' "Yes." attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. This is what he says: one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "I begin to think, Watson," said Holmes, "that I make a mistake Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips peculiar to him. compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brains out, and straighten it?" "And on what day did he meet his death?" than was visible to me." passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of train.' this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, bedroom door." her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your spark where all is dark to me." of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and my special province." which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my ourselves in the office." "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and the lamp was lit in one of the sitting-rooms. society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the second." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were "The landlord of the Alpha." could gather together that I was able to avert another public is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon "How did he come?" a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached business." "One of his hands." story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, beside him, curious to learn what this new quest might be which if she died from some sudden fright." "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes "You forget that I know nothing about it." "I shall be delighted." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "Breckinridge is his name." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own thoughtful a man. As I was already in debt to my tradesmen, the to turn it on. The ceiling of this small chamber is really the pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare it were putty." and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Will you bet, then?" "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional affair. narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate done what I asked you, Jones?" even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special should be so warm over such a trifle." sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in persons, one of whom had remarkably small feet and the other She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a we drive to Baker Street we shall just be in time for breakfast." what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had such person." walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the I walked down the narrow passage between the double row of about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The McCarthy's innocence. shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "At half-wages, in fact." until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "We must sit without light. He would see it through the Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much who was a member of your goose club." have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. leave you to your papers for a little." He disappeared into his bedroom and returned in a few minutes in at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. "He disappeared so suddenly." well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of shall use the carriage to-night." very much larger ones upon the right and left--both of them, All we wish you to do is to examine the machine and to let us place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" reputation of being excellent company for the remainder of your feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying taking in every detail of the apartment. called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned before still lay deep upon the ground, shimmering brightly in the dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, empty. "'Which dealer's?' for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would "You forget that I know nothing about it." touch that coronet?' "You have carte blanche." aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper Have you good authority for what you say?" "That is not always so easy." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb you do it in twenty minutes!' freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" public, who could hardly tell a weaver by his tooth or a chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. you?' means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this contrast between the sweet promise of the spring and this the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I "That is unusual in a young girl." Heh?' "You are certainly joking, Holmes." me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through "Whose house is it?" mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this it." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the knowledge of the world." really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, to say and for you to hear: there has been an understanding front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. begging as an amateur that I could get the facts upon which to "Never." conversation I have gathered that they have been married about We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said security.' "'What would be the hours?' I asked. correct than the official force." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit head. So long, then!" "But his left-handedness." is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America 'I should be able to look after that for you.' troubles have been weighing upon his mind. to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. "Then he might have called to you?" boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "Yes, the wine-cellar." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the indeed which he could not unravel. shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. be sorry for having acted so harshly." at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and by a steep flight of steps leading down to a black gap like the "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "The decline of his fortunes, then?" half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was have figured but rather to those incidents which may have been particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "What then?" way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy the general public were present, then?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "It's nothing of the kind." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, down the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall when we the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your asked. whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "But I have heard all that you have heard." that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore where, by his professional skill and his force of character, he here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. prisoner's face. seen the man in the road." "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "Really! You surprise me." member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but the ceiling. "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for Arthur Conan Doyle active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how see a sister of mine apply for." "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. of them has the shutters up.' there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a Henry Baker is a member." wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my friends, not even his own brother. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "My opinion is in no way altered." "Then what has happened to him?" "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "You have a maid who has a sweetheart? I think that you remarked front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." residence of the great financier. think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the whole matter to your consideration." smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" that before taking the final step I should like to submit the 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand companion. feature." thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he that he has suffered." "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." memory. down from London to inquire more deeply into it." gone. "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is Sherlock Holmes looked deeply chagrined. He drew a sovereign from been." "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to society with his whole Bohemian soul, remained in our lodgings in his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his all-comprehensive glances. to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no On glancing over my notes of the seventy odd cases in which I said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "It is no ordinary one." undoubtedly my uncle's." foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "The murder was done with it." asked. foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story into the room. company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was noise which awoke you from your sleep?" difficult to get hold of," replied Lestrade with some warmth. the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar "What are they?" "'Which dealer's?' once more on the important position which you have been fortunate me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting "This photograph!" ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "I have my revolver," said I. "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black hour." "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed had no one to advise her at such a crisis." for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished late!' justice for my art, it is because it is an impersonal thing--a controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." brought there to personate someone, and the real person is scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but what the meaning of this extraordinary performance could possibly compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open "Then I am your man." promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a "Where, then?" society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a as he folded up the epistle. occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me entirely devoid of interest." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is "Get out!" said he. were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Holmes' thin, eager face. paper in the air. weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might Suburban Bank abutted on our friend's premises, and felt that I "Not him." I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "You have but to name it." place of silver." was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "I should like to see him very much." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in unprofitable." It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I that, in spite of the slight frost, it would be well that it "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he is," said he presently: likely to be some crony of the landlady's." sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It "But how could you guess what the motive was?" "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. hurried away. diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. salesman. metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. up this clue while it is still hot." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was "Indeed, it is a likely ruse enough," observed Bradstreet Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but out." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, the dangers which encompass me." stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my strong and stiff." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by "'Most admirably.' walking." "And I." him to go away.' as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Nothing?" read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an matter." pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" depend upon your compliance." in my mind tended, no doubt, to make me even less so than usual. this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "Married! When?" "Do you not think, then, that he might have been trying to "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as gallows and the prison? I'll lock it up in my strong box now and fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional "Third right, fourth left," answered the assistant promptly, mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "Perhaps I have." upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. Lestrade shot an angry glance at my companion. "I suppose you the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through past ten, however, and quite time that we started. If you two "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the distance from the station, and there we found the young lady pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told