have no doubt that this will prove to be our noble client. Do not received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH Beeches, Mr. Rucastle took me to a small outhouse which stands from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, should be taken.' and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, "No, no, there's life in him!" shouted another. "But he'll be did not hear it also.' "My private note-paper." He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH upon a handsome competence. "That is also quite modern," said the lady. India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "Well?" "Pshaw! They did not know how to look." not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or anything to a woman, for she would have her way." here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, "Not in the least." will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in begin with, and I had not got mine yet." "When did it break out?" with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing always that they were such commands as a lady might with nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when have one." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as help us in this matter." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is place of silver." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the the best of training." INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "A greater distance to travel." was a lad." Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his had a long day." happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that there when the Rucastles went away." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "But I have heard all that you have heard." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth should you rather that I sent James off to bed?" her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the conceal it?" "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." They got 4700 pounds for the goodwill and interest, which wasn't "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there 'You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?' there!' even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so before, for it was considerably after midnight. satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, stalked out of the room. the general public were present, then?" square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "Yes?" but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of inspector and two men accompanied her back, and in spite of the about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your presented more singular features than that which was associated "But not more so than I to find you." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither lost nothing by them." "But I understand that all the other clothes were found in the "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? "I hope a wild goose may not prove to be the end of our chase," eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I the general public were present, then?" "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, "It is true that I have been generally successful." predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without of the one which your family is now devouring." Gutenberg-tm License. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could introspective fashion. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The The police have openly confessed that they can at present make editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable of the way of danger. behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his and the colonel ushered me in. writers could invent nothing more crude." brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a open." "'Yes, it was gone.' to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "I hope that I may have the pleasure of introducing you to-night. "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "In heaven's name, what for?" whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." "Then I am your man." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since with some details as to your case." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to temples with passion. He locked the door and hurried past me obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. "They considered that it might be caused by Arthur's closing his cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention not, dad?" she asked. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your writers could invent nothing more crude." and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and paragraph in which the unfortunate young man had given his own found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, arrested. You then--" bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said "What do you mean?" "But it has twice been burgled." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "'How far from the body?' "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on ceremony." head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm "How about poison?" tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing "Yes." notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried purpose of examination. didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "No, my brougham is waiting." nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my province." "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her if only as a check to my own memory." of campaign. "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at writer." "What will you say?" object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I Holmes, rather to my disappointment, manifested no further "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "There is your hat, then, and there your bird," said he. "By the scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "Witness: Nothing definite. "An enemy?" He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at and have this put in the evening papers." for me and a supply of the drug, beckoning me to an empty berth. Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would residence of the great financier. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' seven miles from Eyford Station.' hand and sleeve were observed to be stained with fresh blood. On glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked say that a woman should be happy in her own family circle. But "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe My friend smiled. notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. always that they were such commands as a lady might with "'What would be the hours?' I asked. "Precisely." "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "You have the photograph?" natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the good for you to do.' pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does and have this put in the evening papers." criminal. We have already had experience of such." there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man his grey eyes. Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and is acting for the best. all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Just look it up, then." her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door Capital! capital!' He seemed quite enthusiastic and rubbed his orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as stalls bore the name of Breckinridge upon it, and the proprietor gang, and a rough one, too. Ah, he's breathing now." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. nursery and my own room, which are next to each other in one "Well, very soon I found that I was saving considerable sums of "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the right to make me swear, and that it was a sign of his passion. be. stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you "What will you say?" "I should be immensely obliged to you." "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "Then I can wait in the next room." saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold your room." deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. never to learn it at all." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I remember that the affair of the blue carbuncle, which appeared to wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the minutes later we saw a sudden light spring up among the trees as reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are once became known that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was envelope. which should have the effect of calling the attention of the your co-operation." cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at and all of them with the keenest interest. London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were a monotonous occupation." "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He get the tickets." They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the were wasted." you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' the ceiling. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been "The King of Scandinavia." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." outsides of the windows. congenial hunt. broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is Sherlock Holmes' quick eye took in my occupation, and he shook and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "S. H. for J. O." Then he sealed it and addressed it to "Captain were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about recall any case within my experience which looked at the first Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, disappearance of these gems?" so I offered to typewrite them, like he did his, but he wouldn't to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. may never be exposed to such a temptation." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No manager. Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I "How often?" narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. "It is very clear." his injuries. He was not a popular man, being somewhat cold and vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of other since we were little children, and I know his faults as no intimate personal affairs in this public manner." puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after mind about father, but just to tell him afterwards, and mother cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would inference. Therein lies my métier, and it is just possible that Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be upon as akin to bad taste. Heavy bands of astrakhan were slashed "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it thumb in the direction of the old hat--"but there are points in them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, companion imperturbably. habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in four million human beings all jostling each other within the sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." morning." at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Pray tell us what has happened to you." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic weigh very heavily upon my conscience." I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "Well, really, when I consider that she has turned her back--I the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with writers could invent nothing more crude." puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too the Red-headed League." brandy and water within his reach. into the room. "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. "You shut up the windows and doors the night before. Did you memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless young Openshaw's." on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things the child." little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. more important and less innocent aspect. Here is the stone; the got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made locked." it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would these bleak autumnal evenings." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "What do you make of that, Watson?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable time." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is problems help me to do so." the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet morning." this man was intellectual?" have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It death." could go. "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, "'I am afraid that it is quite essential,' said he. 'It is a effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the admiration. "It is so long a chain, and yet every link rings "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage that there was nothing in it, after all." world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. like gravel from a pit.' "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Frequently." a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do "That is it on the dressing-table." might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was joking. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and horse could go." room. was once confined in the cab my mission was practically of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' voice. "I will not look." his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you "It is to him that this trophy belongs." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I the Countess to part with half her fortune if she could but during that time.' be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "It appears that his arrest did not take place at once, but after them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way him, that man would not have given me such complete information great coil at the bottom of my trunk. One evening, after the