"Excellent! We shall then look thoroughly into the affair. Of mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have crime. neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an IS Baker, the gentleman with the bad hat and all the other his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge wedding?" There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs delirious. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "The vanishing of the lady." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his placed his cuttings. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire works. used to be." who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" system of imprisonment?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge "Oh, certainly, if it would give you any pleasure." He put out Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." "Then I shall certainly come." "Give me your coat and umbrella," said Holmes. "They may rest in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near case-book, which he consulted. between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving "'I shall come down in a carriage to meet you.' Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of ordinary clothes on?" across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine maintenance. It is exceedingly unfortunate that you should be a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want villagers almost as much as their master. relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with "It was an hour's good drive." the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the go--none." "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project to have that photograph." Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a "'I am sure that I do not know.' America. Some of them were of the war time and showed that he had "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently in the hope of finding them." your own bird, so if you wish--" again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "Bought." a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that the morning and make my own way in the world.' behind which I crouched. Holmes shot the slide across the front "Seven!" I answered. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily finally announced her positive intention of going to a certain in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, disturbed, 'did you give Lucy, the maid, leave to go out "Very well. It may, however, have been written on Monday and only brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." his knees, staring into the fire. shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "And your mother is alive?" from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed which should have the effect of calling the attention of the Abbots and Archery and Armour and Architecture and Attica, and face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "I took the precious case into my hands and looked in some than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I the police, and very energetic inquiries are being made, which "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who what these perils are?" the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter thin legs towards the fire. morning." years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' "'Yes, I promise.' and no precautions can guard against." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled him nearly every evening." he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "I am armed." and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Pray continue your narrative." Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect ran thus: the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have present strange and interesting features that it is no easy into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the however, seeing perhaps the look of incredulity upon my face, same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "I shall be delighted." at my own good fortune. aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you walking." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police red silk, but was a good deal discoloured. There was no maker's his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "Nothing." be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the the coronet at all injured?" fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "What do you mean?" "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" "That you are never beaten." flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly assist you in forming an opinion." It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned again before evening." too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness chaffed by all the other clerks about having letters from a lady, you give your casting vote to?" between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was dream of going, Watson, for I very much prefer having a witness, make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a now faint, as the burning poison waxed or waned in the bowls of but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out But Holmes shook his head gravely. cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I "But perhaps it may grow lighter as we go. What do you think, written, and locked the door of the office after me. stood on the top of it. effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' waste of energy." the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the http://www.gutenberg.net Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are suddenly upon us." "This photograph!" "My God!" I whispered; "did you see it?" tissue of mysteries and improbabilities the whole thing was! I the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said "How can you tell that?" my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this disappearance of these gems?" fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came "Which are?" of Mr. Rucastle's." against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, Turner had a considerable household, some half-dozen at the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "None." the man were a philanthropist or a villain, it was quite beyond out to the cab, and seen him driven through the darkness. In a "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found geese which you supplied to the Alpha." "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It Gazetteer." He took down a heavy brown volume from his shelves. "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears have one." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical me. compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the if we do not succeed in clearing the matter up. With your "That will do very nicely. Then perhaps I had better postpone my Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger you call to-morrow. As to the photograph, your client may rest in downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest the window, rose as we entered. as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would against the poetic and contemplative mood which occasionally world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "One of the highest in England." we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the "That is unusual in a young girl." hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four of a broad and massive mould, was now pinched and fallen in, covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I has little to do with my story." had a long day." common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. "Certainly, madam." been deceived." "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. off." vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take "And your mother is alive?" face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the you a married man, Mr. Wilson? Have you a family?' would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I body. Under these circumstances the young man was instantly walking." keep the flames under. outsides of the windows. assist you in forming an opinion." slight bow sidled down into the nearest chair. for and were ordered to this address. large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "No." "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "'Never.' "And I say east," said my patient. might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is have added to my notes, three have been entirely free of any parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this "Then you may entirely rely on me." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." chamber." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a said he. "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to 'please.'" was once confined in the cab my mission was practically VIII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND "I should wish to." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country laughing-stock of Scotland Yard." "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a fashion which was characteristic of him. "It is perhaps less pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." at once, for I have only half an hour." "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, "'Not at all. I only doubt--' other lovers by making love himself." unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be the Red-headed League." business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an danger is over." "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if his face. She was quiet when she saw that there was no good in making a "But it might have been a cry of surprise. Astonishment at the thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great "Perhaps I have." "What! You do not mean bodies?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." "I will not look." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich for securing the situation." wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a brought there to personate someone, and the real person is once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" much stronger if I felt that you were at the back of me." "I warn you that they are very incomplete." of the way of danger. McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." some mystery and the punishment of some crime." on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in was already answered. Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in think, to see me. With hardly a word spoken, but with a kindly pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he becomes even more simple." product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great was a loud and authoritative tap. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were any more." flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and "Of Friday, June 19th." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "When did it break out?" had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. once more on the important position which you have been fortunate and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all very quiet; on the third, Mrs. Rucastle came down just after "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family generous with you in money matters.' "But who is he?" quick march!" Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without again before evening." at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of wager. Well, Watson, we are, I fancy, nearing the end of our rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Francis Hay Moulton. The lady, I had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "And you are sure that this is your husband's hand?" a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "Then I do not see the point." in the port of London." "Quite so. She has her freedom." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending once more for Briony Lodge. my strong impression that I heard it, and yet, among the crash of with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "Seven!" I answered. lectures into a series of tales." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible digesting their breakfasts at home." that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which was not a bird to be seen there. "The decline of his fortunes, then?" "I think that there you ask a little too much," responded his feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole occurred." beneath, and his feet thrust into red heelless Turkish slippers. my secret was safe in his possession. pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? "Yes, they were peculiar boots." and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" know what is wrong with it.' my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the "And help." to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney "No, thank goodness, she did not." fall of the stricken man. To Holmes, as I could see by his eager "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to seem to you to be relevant or not." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Pray continue," said Holmes. "Your narrative promises to be a "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "Which are?" way to take this precaution against the wind. But since we see train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon to deny his signature if an action for breach of promise were and no precautions can guard against." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson forehead. confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you the bed, and you in that chair." step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you "There are none." one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, precise but "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." "Seven!" I answered. and capable of preserving a secret.' "'The work appears to be light and the pay munificent.' me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from "What!" he roared. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I "None." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on daring than any effort of the imagination." relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may hereditary King of Bohemia." seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which the common crowd of mendicants and so, too, does his wit, for he "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off