her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "Yes, sir." "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been the very letters. But what is this written above them?' "No." "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself as noiselessly as she had come. train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank you, my dear young lady?' scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment train this morning, and on inquiring at Paddington as to where I demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' shag which I had seen upon the previous night. "I fear not." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich searched, without anything being found which could incriminate parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been beg that you will break it off." "Frequently." of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere lamp. "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the "Will you go?" family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." confronted him. however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were for its centre. the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, him nearly every evening." wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a not, however, go to the expense of purchasing one, as we have one peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "Did your wife hear all this?" maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons packed between America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. "And your father?" asked Holmes. "Was he in favour of such a business?" "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your Street. yards of it?' "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been shaken than I had ever seen him. "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "'Tell me all about it,' said I. 'please.'" has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Yes, he did." thought that she would have been so carried away." general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, you came in." value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my I have it here in my museum." Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Where does the thing come from?' never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send him. There is, however, one of these last which was so remarkable LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' salesman. to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the occurred." however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical "Murdered?" stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we the station." the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she it were putty." urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now "'Yes, it was gone.' fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It just called myself is not exactly my own." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "But the mystery?" "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and notes," he said. Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, mysterious business." Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," him." When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said sewn upon it, and a fringe of little black jet ornaments. Her "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that and laid it on the table. "And now there is only she to be described. She is my niece; but tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back putting in the horse. severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where a room. as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to beg that you will break it off." points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, with the outside air!" whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest how narrow had been my escape. red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the forebodings. thought that she would have been so carried away." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "She was as bright as possible--at least until after the "'I am sure if I had known--' first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "10th. John Swain cleared. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before "'I am sure if I had known--' road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal fish-monger and a tide-waiter." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be have a small opening between two rooms. It was so small that a The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." have accepted such a situation. mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it "That is unusual in a young girl." conversation soon flagged. At last, however, the bumping of the house for five minutes.' in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We who had known dad in the old days in Victoria." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she affair. "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not was it brought him the coronet? street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I notes," he said. vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and habit of advancing money.' "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a confronted him. she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right newspaper selections." penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of Again Holmes raved in the air. whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "And why?" McCarthy's innocence. "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the "Nothing?" "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch which I took to be the police; but when I got into the stable Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. this man was intellectual?" reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." galvanised. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, returned to France?" broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I points in connection with it which never have been, and probably the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could leave you to your papers for a little." know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "'Yes, but with my back towards it.' "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to as yours." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon forward and shaking his hunting-crop. "I know you, you scoundrel! over with notes and figures. cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's the window, rose as we entered. ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations beautiful face. I could see at a glance that she was sick with to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord "My dear Holmes!" contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Yes. That is what Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, looks upon as recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never this unhappy family?" Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put "Thank you. Pray proceed." your most interesting statement." compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? tassel actually lying upon the pillow. incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are country--in Bohemia, not far from Carlsbad. 'Remarkable as being bonnet, and went out." the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled to tackle the facts." into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Absolutely?" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have quest, and the only point which remains to be determined is "'Where have you put it?' asked Arthur. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a said he. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, "Pray be precise as to details," said he. him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point direction." feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Certainly, madam." success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at meanly of me." "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "And that is--" parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with get her out of the way." Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "And what did you learn from him?" distinguish the words: despaired of." "'Entirely.' "Thank you!" said Holmes, folding up the paper and returning it revellers. A dull wrack was drifting slowly across the sky, and a chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his upon the shelf for the interim." "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "Yes." Serpentine Avenue. "Frequently." have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into the new conditions, obtained an advance from a relative, which The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home McCarthy." and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address me. You must get home instantly and act." have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "Always." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. it may be of some service in the investigation which lies before read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the "Who was the criminal, then?" bearing upon the case." deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong the one as in the other." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day dangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this were when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the Arthur Conan Doyle "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "'Quite so. In dress now, for example. We are faddy people, you becomes even more simple." he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "That was it, sir." "That was it, sir." "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I "Texas, I think." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by case-book, which he consulted. ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had "Quite so. She has her freedom." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from several quiet little villages up there." providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance Street. though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "Absolutely?" passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped of his shoulders. carpenter." "We have tried and failed." This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, violent quarrel. She heard Mr. McCarthy the elder using very "Tired-looking or fresh?" and effective." his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply his face which made him a very different person to the round, broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "Then, how do you know?" We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "The best possible." His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but information in his hands the value of which he did not himself to-night. There is a distinct element of danger." the vestry. She was passing the front pew at the time, and it VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND humiliation." Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very "None. Neville wrote those words." light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the seem to you to be relevant or not." commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her seen the man in the road." "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to it." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Heh?' she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." nonsense.' upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City few and simple, so that in less than the time stated I was in a evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a she slowly sank and died without having recovered her would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she me upon any point which I do not make clear." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" Sutherland?" prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from this Miss Turner." I held the little printed slip to the light. lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I have been better. It is all right." anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire events than those which have happened in my own family." "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." bled considerably." remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "I had come to these conclusions before ever I had entered his gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "You didn't know this dead man, McCarthy. He was a devil hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "Well, but China?" return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry said I. chamber." months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the really the only notable feature about the thing." this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs to-night's adventure." "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "I think that it is very probable." prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with up this clue while it is still hot." "Her father is very rich?" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress interested in these little problems, and since you are good work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & minor matters until to-morrow." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not and that he would see to anything that turned up. have established a very serious case against the son of the His face was bent downward, his shoulders bowed, his lips so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't "My dear Holmes!" reporting and sat day after day in the corner which I had first helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now call you and give you the chance." door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the arrested, it seemed to me that it would be best for me to get the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to once more for Briony Lodge. performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, "What I expected to see." "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have "Yes. It was the bisulphate of baryta." any little problem which you may submit to me." meant it for the best. recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers and that he would see to anything that turned up. "'Surely it would be better to take no notice.' What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? with some details as to your case." burst into a hearty fit of laughter. for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It works. See paragraph 1.E below. are, I think, all that we need." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to be a noise like a pistol shot. Do you tell me that all this Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a presented more singular features than that which was associated evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he foresight and the moral retrogression?" was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been drawing your inferences." "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have