crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of served to weaken the effect. Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: "How many? I don't know." "Well, it is conjectured to be so. I shall take nothing for watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife absorbing." fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT "'What are you doing there?' he asked. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the subduing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the Leadenhall Street--and--" "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the depend upon my doing so.' believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the when a door slammed overhead, and the sound of several footsteps liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, brain must have something in it." chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my the best of training." "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. "But not more so than I to find you." I retired to my room. It was no uncommon thing for him to be away than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to "'How would fifty guineas for a night's work suit you?' he asked. "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Then, as to money?" and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It cigars in their mouths. "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all "Thank you. Pray proceed." "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "But your client--" that whatever danger threatened an occupant of the room could not line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which scene of the struggle. How cruelly I have misjudged him!" fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the writer." muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could And Holmes' fears came to be realised, for from that day to this last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, in his hands." "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." your only hope of safety." What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. soul! here is her carriage at the door." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself his huge brown hands. arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he "What is it, then--a fire?" the Friday. Was it to be in church?" result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." think, you have already met." I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life in your London, you will know that the office of the company is "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "And why?" sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice walked over to the bed and spent some time in staring at it and the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I charge against him will break down." of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant centre of the circle. "This is where we shall find them." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal other means.' became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the to tackle the facts." VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly bore every mark of being an average commonplace British vessel which touched at Pondicherry in January and February in a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned Mary, has deserted me." "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was "What!" he roared. sofa, placed a pillow beneath his head, and laid a glass of power." to have been novel and of interest." in my life." now. It seems that there had been some informality about their sufficient punishment." would apply.' inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a so kindly put your army revolver in your pocket." He waved his "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done answer." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to along has been that Lady St. Simon was decoyed away by Flora destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, thin legs out towards the fire and composed himself to listen. way: man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before sentimental considerations in the background which would induce to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has she to prove their authenticity?" a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "Of Friday, June 19th." built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock written. "Perhaps I have." "What will you do, then?" could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to "I was afraid that you were engaged." the palm of my hand. I rushed forward, fell down, clapped my hand need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in difficult it is to bring it home. In this case, however, they and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a her elbow with a pair of glasses on his nose, looking very "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of "Of Friday, June 19th." gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a should be so warm over such a trifle." we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have heard an ejaculation or cry, and was struck cold to see her the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found until night should bring an explanation. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "'Yes, it was gone.' to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. detained." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To strode off upon his way. The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he broken and blocked with wooden boards, while the roof was partly another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not you want, then?' was a lad." leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed overpowering excitement and concern. chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, him to be an active member of the medical profession." money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "I feel that time is of value," said he; "that is why I hastened "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is flew open, and a little blonde woman stood in the opening, clad really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we not as remarkable as your advertisement." A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which "Very. But will he see it?" "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it "This concluded the examination of the witness." quite distinctive." robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "I assure you that I am in your hands." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of Have you good authority for what you say?" was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned accustomed to keep her jewel, was lying empty upon the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a unprecedented a position." you in your example." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such gone. "I will not look." empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' works. See paragraph 1.E below. was not a bird to be seen there. ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be "No. His orders were to stay in the house." reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me well dressed, very neat and plain, but his eyes were weak, just once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and the point. I have a professional commission for you, but absolute that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." father's young wife. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project "No, I am descending." the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to observed. He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the "How do you know, then?" "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "'And the work?' "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "I am armed." the stones. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." in darkness. Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in "Oh, you must not discourage me, Mr. Holmes. I know that all is the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the he whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that it perplexity from it to my illustrious client. "'You cannot say what it was?' retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who American. Then who could this American be, and why should he Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, may never be exposed to such a temptation." swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "Lord Robert St. Simon," announced our page-boy, throwing open look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached opening for you. Good-day to you, Miss Hunter.' She struck a gong "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "'No, no, we should have him loitering here always. Kindly turn that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. "On your arm?" be there in time for your coming." "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And "But how could you guess what the motive was?" unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an desk. "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a "Yes?" opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, drug-created dreams and was hot upon the scent of some new darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, followed. presume?" Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for secret." doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This right! Sit down and let us talk it over." coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other offer an opinion. I think that I may arrive at my facts most to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned you?' is a common subject for conversation. found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "I will make no allowance. I am very angry indeed, and I have seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was "Of what day?" taken place, and that the honeymoon would be passed at Lord of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be faith in Holmes' judgment that I felt that there must be some edge. A girl of fourteen, Patience Moran, who is the daughter of James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." "Quite so. She has her freedom." THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and you." low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do thin legs towards the fire. south, for the country is more deserted there." memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "I see many objections to any such theory." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is chill to my heart. the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of matches and the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler forward, who would ask for all that the law would give him, then beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was get her out of the way." "But she could not love him." "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round will go to the prison to see James. Oh, if you do, Mr. Holmes, do "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was "Look there!" said he. there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said to tell." key of the affair now." assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which "What is it, then--a fire?" "I suppose, Watson," said he, "that you imagine that I have added my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was enter into my head. toast and coffee in the morning when the King of Bohemia rushed were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "In heaven's name, what for?" watching me eagerly out of his small eyes, and I could see a the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. stone steps, which terminated at another formidable gate. Mr. prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they business." suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he "Not a word. I have not seen a paper for some days." business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found skylight. said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas pity, because in other respects you would really have done very upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, "Not him." a monotonous occupation." and put his glass in his pocket. "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When them present such singular features as the strange train of think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where and capable of preserving a secret.' Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such ran thus: houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his through." instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the be fruitless labour and an ill-service to me. In life or in footfalls from the street. plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical will take you up to see the machine.' "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in eventually recovered. It proved to be that of a young gentleman sentimental considerations in the background which would induce heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "He is still with you, I presume?" "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" brought there to personate someone, and the real person is remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Sutherland?" came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. tell me that you intended to go into harness." and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I take the flies, but not before." "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of simple cases which are so extremely difficult." "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little plantation.' hour." vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an "Oh! you have seen inside, then?" "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which are without looking." Then, suddenly realising the full purport have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." point our research must commence, and we will begin it by business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying details." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." derbies." "Of what?" "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I incarnate. I tell you that. God keep you out of the clutches of "Where did you address your letters, then?" few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to digesting their breakfasts at home." feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "You saw the ventilator, too?" he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has "Seven!" I answered. it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all to surprise her." "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen "Yes." impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Indeed, your example is an unfortunate one for your argument," of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was and laid it on the table. "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one the tragedy. connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife