been with you?" we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival must be when I saw the door open.' "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how gone. to have that photograph." "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were web to weave, while theirs is already woven. The first "Game for a morning drive?" "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting wanted for ourselves." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban he is one who should be deeply distrusted. So I think, and so, "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in words came to my lips. refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, I took a step forward. In an instant his strange headgear began fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. "To eat it!" Our visitor half rose from his chair in his so far?" "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at 'Papier.' Now for the 'Eg.' Let us glance at our Continental "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "'Ten to two.' it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, British peeress.'" however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. have been better. It is all right." come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and helping a boy to put up the shutters. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "Let you have five hundred to-morrow morning." he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to better grown goose." go from here to the Strand." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready she might be summoned. the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together disappearance of the bride.'" Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet works. See paragraph 1.E below. who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a as he remarks, very much against the son." telegram would bring me down to your help." "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "And what did you learn from him?" adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the cigars in their mouths. attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders shoulder; "he's all right." "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' open." unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for whether it answered to the description of any of their "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' thought that she would have been so carried away." "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade five-and-twenty, I should say, with a strong, masculine face; but sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "The doctor?" found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be though I presume that they were hardly from the same class of "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in made him keep the appointment." passage and a tap at the door. "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An It was useless, however. He was off in one of those hysterical hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers once more for Briony Lodge. "'Never.' that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the Mr. Lestrade. You know me too well to think that I am boasting "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most during that time.' gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From good for you to do.' apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss several quiet little villages up there." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in tell them apart.' is of value.' Heaven forgive me for that last sentence, but the and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. there in twenty minutes." "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my how narrow had been my escape. my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose this as likely?" so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, there when the Rucastles went away." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and said I. the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "On the contrary," said Holmes quietly; "I have every reason to "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more instincts rose up against that laugh. "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! door?" the clouds. Holmes drove in silence, with his head sunk upon his building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the morning and make my own way in the world.' collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where Sherlock Holmes was wrong in his conjecture, however, for there first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at questioning and rather startled gaze. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to thirty. the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "The man married a woman very much older than himself for her the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to purpose of examination. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, ventilator." entirely devoid of interest." "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife the coat, then, and be in the act of throwing it out, when it it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading little adventures." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical of Mr. Rucastle's." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up fishes. over with notes and figures. pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important. "Dark enough and sinister enough." no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for Then they will not lose a minute, for the sooner they do their will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us round and wave him away like that.' "Mr. Hosmer Angel came to the house again and proposed that we when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': "Then you may entirely rely on me." along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable ago." might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they "It is to him that this trophy belongs." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, and would burst out of the house and tear about the garden with a future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was bird. Then, again, the introduction of his name will cause him to McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, vague that it is a question whether justice will be done." "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem the clothes might betray me. I threw open the window, reopening stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and "Yes." "'December 22nd. Twenty-four geese at 7s. 6d.'" "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, and capable of preserving a secret.' the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to any." intimate personal affairs in this public manner." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat Sherlock Holmes and I surveyed this curt announcement and the affair. "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt off." direction." I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." "My dear Holmes!" thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from house. Julia went there at Christmas two years ago, and met there it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which better grown goose." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "I have come for advice." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy you do it in twenty minutes!' were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every "Whose house is it?" the deep blue cloak which was thrown over his shoulders was lined "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it "When you combine the ideas of whistles at night, the presence of "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' papers diligently of late, have you not?" "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the "Married! When?" glasses, slight infirmity of speech. Was dressed, when last seen, foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "We have retained these things for some days," said Holmes, as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, all that?" mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be of which were open. They each led into an empty room, dusty and already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "Ah, but I was recommended to you." the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I have accepted such a situation. "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his with her." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "What do you mean?" if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "Well." himself to tell his story. a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other "How did that help you?" going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Yes, that is the Crown." The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always will find little credit to be gained out of this case." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "I saw nothing remarkable save the bell-rope, and what purpose "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped "Yes. He waved his hands." solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan and helper to everybody who is absolutely puzzled, throughout "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. 'Frisco, found that I had given him up for dead and had gone to Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he of receipt of the work. putting his fingertips together, as was his custom when in state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was to Leatherhead. and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a mystery may be cleared along those lines." from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his simple cases which are so extremely difficult." My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked province." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the Stoke Moran." "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the Foundation sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal signal I tossed my rocket into the room with a cry of "Fire!" The your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' used to be." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then the stones. saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I at the window, he declared that she must have been either mad or little woman to-night when she meets me at the door." Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "Won't it ring?" it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that definite end. "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary "That was it, sir." "Your French gold?" maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been invisible to me," I remarked. "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." good-night and bustled off upon her way. think that he is innocent?" surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended fatal, or if they may be explained away. But what in the name of was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "It is solved." shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of some place of shelter and let the county police know what has "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, absolutely follow my advice in every respect." I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where "It was a confession," I ejaculated. it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in intrusion of other matters." higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be had died away into the silence from which it rose. "Oh, the cause is excellent!" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or of." bedroom door." and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for "He is dead," cried several voices. The police have openly confessed that they can at present make 1.F. "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should hurried away. door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of gigantic client. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. the coroner come to?" Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Get out!" said he. "Then perhaps you will kindly explain how it is that we found ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been "It is his hat." out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case success. helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers arms and began to sob in a high treble key. "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken is four-and-twenty." It was not very long before my friend's prediction was fulfilled. "Then the page we have seen--" think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to "What are they?" "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk too. has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss society." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." I nodded again. dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will vague figure huddled up in the darkness. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few moment from his face. I have never denied him a wish. Perhaps it "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder.