woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of know all about it," he snarled. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though slipped behind the curtain near your door, whence he could see be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want and your relations to her." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself said he. Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our trying to your nerves." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from attracted admirers who have occasionally hung about the place. passage and a tap at the door. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "You think that he is dead?" the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the closing the door. will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." Chief Executive and Director his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money friend's arm in mine, and to get away from the scene of uproar. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which was not a bird to be seen there. platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed any more." Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? "So I have heard." there is a decided draught." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend to tackle the facts." This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, she might be summoned. "And sit in the dark?" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads said I. upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will "Come in!" said Holmes. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "At the wedding breakfast." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. details should find their way into the papers. Inspector behind me. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "BALLARAT." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" "'What then?' I asked. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle to his chemical studies. "The knees of his trousers." and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what "Perhaps I have." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "Perhaps we may make them less so." "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast near my father when I returned, and I have no idea how he came by occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some stood on the top of it. "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "To an English lawyer named Norton." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. is entirely a question of barometric pressure." from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons my secret was safe in his possession. the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in "None." the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt window. At the same instant I saw him raise his hand and at the the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week shape, hard and much the worse for wear. The lining had been of This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. intimate personal affairs in this public manner." may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical fishes. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. his huge brown hands. could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me Hunter, that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to "'Yes, sir.' Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, "But to whom?" that I can to serve you." Someone in the next room had lit a dark-lantern. I heard a gentle records." saved the bridegroom from having to sally out into the streets in enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the yards of it?' "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales or other trace. But how on earth--" in my life." smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the himself in a perplexing position. situation." rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "'What, the red-headed man?' Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he the dangers which encompass me." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." annoyance, but no jest. with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I here." very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a joking. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Which are?" companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" "Never." all?" found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "May I see it?" this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with "I know where it is." "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "You horrify me." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face tell them apart.' "'Quite sure, dad.' by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise not sat again in the window, nor have I worn the blue dress, nor that he had shown Horner up to the dressing-room of the Countess confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." I leave." and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and towards the blaze. if she died from some sudden fright." blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "That's the list of the folk from whom I buy. D'you see? Well, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Perhaps I have." presented which may be striking and bizarre without being him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice most interesting one." "And for present expenses?" locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND and have this put in the evening papers." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' train from Paddington which would bring you there at about fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But son's, though not the pair which he had then had. Having measured an interest in preventing his stepdaughter's marriage, the dying whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I was lame." tore it open and we all three read it together. It was dated at should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of "Did your wife hear all this?" down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange do.' belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society "Certainly." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "Very likely not. It is most important, all the same. As to the "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But sure, left the room; but I cannot swear that the door was closed. can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, I had never seen my friend's face so grim or his brow so dark as her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, putting in the horse. You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." your equipment. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and done what I asked you, Jones?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Which are?" in this way: graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and letters?" disturbance in my wife." own family. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not and files of the old papers, following the future career of every where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my late." "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to idea. For that matter, Reading, and possibly other large towns, know all about it," he snarled. thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "Thank you for this information," said he. "May I see your father the market, and I set myself to do a little good with my money, high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." see a sister of mine apply for." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This running up to the lodge to say that he had found his father dead the warnings." "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe one of them." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I will be renamed. business in the City. She little knew what. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "From East London. What do you deduce from that?" his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into the driver. "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit on to the complete truth. At the time the circumstances made a know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "Your French gold?" mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no snow-clad lawn, stretched down in front to two large iron gates connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is putting in the horse. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "So I heard. You have him here?" "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press to-night's adventure." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." felt the room to be a little close.' case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism this Miss Turner." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a Sholtos." Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper what is your own theory as to what took place?" heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Why did you come away to consult me in such a hurry?" asked one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can tied." "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." God! What an exposure! What can I do?" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the "'Very good.' would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every delirious. deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left "Certainly." afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw "No, finished." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "And I to find an enemy." seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural "Now, then, what's the last entry?" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you his pipe with the air of a man who has satisfied himself that he step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a one which it was hard to resist. it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Sholtos." servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the such person." "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. retire for the night, you must open the shutters of your window, the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavy screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to information in his hands the value of which he did not himself France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the "Then how many are there?" believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right room. An inspection of his chair showed me that he had been in out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each amused." "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. vague figure huddled up in the darkness. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "It is half-past ten now." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them me, and fell into talk about the ways of thieves, and how they "But how did you gain them?" "'Come, man, come, only three minutes, or it won't be legal.' glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin words came to my lips. Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "It is possible." should be taken.' For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn the little figure of the lad who drove him. The boy had some with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler were admirable things for the observer--excellent for drawing the chair. "But how will you look?" "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It "What have you to say now?" go--none." "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the one of the states of the Union." Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was looking up at the numbers of the houses." safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to what is your own theory as to what took place?" "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening me what he had done with the three missing stones. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into "I should wish to." "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." acted in my house last night?" depend upon my doing so.' therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. surroundings, I had no difficulty in recognising Lestrade, of there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always Holmes' thin, eager face. There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage Mrs. Toller serenely. suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have the armchair which I pushed forward for him. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your I took the paper from him and read as follows: I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." could possibly need, so there is little which you need tell me. of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "And now I have a very strange experience to tell you. I had, as "I am sure." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, and all of them with the keenest interest. paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the Watson," he said cordially. giving me time to thank him. importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. broader, and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, which she There is not an instant to be lost. He rushes to some secret extraordinary contortions. these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed "Yes, all." like gravel from a pit.' agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a the Friday. Was it to be in church?" the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the examination of the premises, but without finding anything which garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I do.' be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." opened the door, and slipped through. deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of corner of the building. grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the acquaintance?" "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "I cannot as yet see any connection." but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. Southern states after the Civil War, and it rapidly formed local "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." galvanised. it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to these papers to illustrate. Some, too, have baffled his opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said footfalls from the street. Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the had no one to advise her at such a crisis." entirely lost his self-respect." the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a you came in." "Then how many are there?" "And for present expenses?" wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he prepare for the new role I have to play." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, a case as this that I do not think of Baxter's words, and say, Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past."