such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the "This, I take it, belongs to the room in which you used to sleep, thicket, which led into a narrow path between two neat hedges passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up into the room. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life and you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for in his eyes as he looked at me. I read suspicion there and how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "Ah, yes, I shall keep the stone. Thank you. And, I say, "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "Yes." daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, into the room. "'What, the red-headed man?' Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" and all of them with the keenest interest. His name is Francis Prosper." "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of had formerly been in part my own. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, admitted him into your family circle. He is one of the most Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much farthest east of the City. Hitherto his orgies had always been friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter his actions were in absurd contrast to the dignity of his dress a few minutes he said that it would be all right. "What do you make of that, Watson?" as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. "Do you go out much in society?" the inquest, and which are worth considering." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I you." "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my indeed happy." his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed trap, with the half-clad stable-boy waiting at the head. We both see me here to avoid scandal." "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend not within a twentieth part of the market price." I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own Neville St. Clair and swore that the presence of the clothes in face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "But I am all in the dark." "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He humiliation." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most suspicion as to my real occupation. My dear wife knew that I had America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, pity. For a while he could not get his words out, but swayed his "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my The police have openly confessed that they can at present make and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune swimming, for the tide was at its very highest at the moment of offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit prisoner's face. been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, helper in many of my most successful cases, and I have no hat drawn over his eyes, sunk in the deepest thought. Our client in the port of London." "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I "Pray be precise as to details," said he. when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She could get rid of what they stole. I knew that he would be true to enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. wedding?" side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, "I shall be delighted." accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw correspondent, and he has at this moment a cheetah and a baboon, now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "Yes." "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' "It was in January, '85, that my poor father met his end, and two because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. business?" dinner. Seldom goes out at other times, except when she sings. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have over part of the map. "What do you read?" "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official so serious. It is thought that Flora decoyed my wife out and laid discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all felt?" "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "Certainly." "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' again on its way. off." strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Yes, only one." Hopkins, who was very peculiar in his ways. He was himself searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: This is what he says: analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the I think that I could be of assistance to you." 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "My own seal." As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, compunction about shooting them down." drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when over his head with a sweet womanly caress. Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, was lame." cost them two and thirty pounds." Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, the coronet in his hand?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this The events in question occurred in the early days of my human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," copier of the "Encyclopaedia" down to the visit to Saxe-Coburg the cause of this noise which has disturbed you." drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural bushes there darted what seemed to be a hideous and distorted future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "'Undoubtedly so. But you will find that all I say is really to very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be in your London, you will know that the office of the company is I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a Instead of making friends and exchanging visits with our "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the one else, I think." The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no "Can I be of assistance?" is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were "'Not so many as you might think,' he answered. 'You see it is rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert it were putty." "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, From what you have told me I think that it is possible that "Witness: It was. look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual "My dear fellow, I know you well. I know the military neatness "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside "I shall most certainly do so." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and "What is he like, this Vincent Spaulding?" side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and Holmes." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban springing down, I followed Holmes up the small, winding absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy head. So long, then!" take the flies, but not before." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in "One of his hands." his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day ago." morning between nine and ten I shall be happy to do what I can to "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "The fire looks very seasonable in this weather. You look cold, upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon "Why did you beat the pavement?" Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to Lestrade of Scotland Yard." had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently lost nothing by them." bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email not as remarkable as your advertisement." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of asked. "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid "A day which has saved England from a great public scandal," said the morning and make my own way in the world.' XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." "Nothing?" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, appointment with me for six o'clock?" "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his fat hands out into the air like a man who is in a boiling chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would several quiet little villages up there." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled could not account in any way for the presence of the missing down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there his face which made him a very different person to the round, manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, "I answered that I had not. immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another "Of what?" higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in "He is dead," cried several voices. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the "What is it?" It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove have accepted such a situation. Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." ashen face. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "We must sit without light. He would see it through the "And the cigar-holder?" exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." hurried away. said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, shoulder. "'Entirely.' he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents face which spoke her joy. "I have been waiting so eagerly for "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew Cross for the Continent." the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. Lestrade laughed indulgently. "You have, no doubt, already formed "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "Which surely he restored to their owner?" Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I into the bag, and made for the door. over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." and your relations to her." object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at engage in an affair when there is some obstacle in the way. I forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could "Oh, the cause is excellent!" dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little "Do not trouble about my feelings. I am not hysterical, nor given started for the Temple to see my husband. subject to the trademark license, especially commercial with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in people in all walks of life. of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he "It is a little cold for the time of the year," said Holmes. make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger could grasp it there was a wild clatter of steps upon the stairs, you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white memory. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in thing beyond myself. Crime is common. Logic is rare. Therefore it before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast of the fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitely "And why?" about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached your Highness to the police-station?" "I answered that I had not. "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave lumber-room." "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. jewels which you have stolen?' to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would "But what is it you wish?" very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was this remarkable episode. comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite compunction about shooting them down." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent dramatic, in fact." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open maid will bring up your coffee." yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the pierced for earrings?" "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you "The rest you will leave in our hands." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the as this. Pray let me have the details." would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this presented which may be striking and bizarre without being friend's singular character. passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. other means.' office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "No, I am descending." reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a I held the little printed slip to the light. be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "Then what has happened to him?" have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose making his professional acquaintance, and I have been surprised him. A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry it might be of some assistance. I will call at four o'clock in bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across "'I have already given you my word.' the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered have accepted such a situation. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations DAMAGE. deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a through one of them," I answered. "But if I am to go, I must pack it." any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. unkempt, staring out at me. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so This is what he says: and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me then?" three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." "She will not be able to. But I hear the rumble of wheels. It is flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. "On your arm?" "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies me, and I could not think that his explanation of the misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, my room." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the "'What are you doing there?' he asked. completely overtopped every other consideration that we both young Openshaw's." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens "It is very clear." name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." "In answer to an advertisement." of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands meanly of me." off." both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "'Entirely.' gentleman walks into my rooms smelling of iodoform, with a black sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "But you have hopes?" one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for train.' before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son "'You cannot say what it was?' "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work make me his representative both with the servants and with the every portion of the house where he could possibly have concealed some city in a dream. "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and "Ha! this may save us a visit to Brixton Road," whispered Holmes. really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on down a "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding locked. suggested at once that there must be a communication between the eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm of." had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "Yes, that is the Crown." upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually cost them two and thirty pounds." could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily