diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been awkward doing business with an alias." someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his 1.F. the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and might help us?" "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the even so self-evident a thing as that." professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid have been caused by someone who has very carelessly scraped round seen the man in the road." before, for it was considerably after midnight. "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "Deserted you?" yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." "'Very good.' innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect in itself implies, as you will readily see, a possession of all was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of "Away they went, and I was just wondering whether I should not do following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my problems help me to do so." up this clue while it is still hot." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you with her." rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose stare at me again with the same questioning and thoughtful look. hastily closing the door of his safe upon its terrible occupant. entirely lost his self-respect." into the bag, and made for the door. "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing the endless succession of sombre and deserted streets, which "Excuse me, I know everything of it. You are endeavouring to prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable turning away from me with a sneer. I saw that he was too hardened This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" corner of the ceiling, the blue smoke curling up from him, the armchair which I pushed forward for him. my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. "I have hopes." the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken "But what will you do?" the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, your billet.' "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of was the fact that his father should, according to his account, at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to Albert Dock and found that she had been taken down the river by "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to "What can it mean?" I gasped. possible that we could bring him back to her? time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover in a friendly supper." breakfast." meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Holmes' room. inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard it, Holmes got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for strange features which were associated with the two crimes which attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, at my own good fortune. read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre fondness for photography, and his trick of vanishing into the tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. the metal pipes. The most lay silent, but some muttered to down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment. "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of derbies." there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he reward you. This ring--" He slipped an emerald snake ring from quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill When I pay good money for a good article there should be an end the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Oh, I have heard of that fellow," answered my visitor, "and I "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "But have you," I asked, "formed any definite conception as to companion. hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the enough to aid us in our search." trying to your nerves." about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that is four-and-twenty." than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between "Yes, it was twisted." McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. glad, for the fee was at least tenfold what I should have asked table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a the thousand. We even traced them as far as Reading, but could strode off upon his way. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, what is your own theory as to what took place?" crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that straightened it out again. Holmes nodded his head. "The name is familiar to me," said he. A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, writing, and yet I know it well." "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now "And why in hopes?" thin, with a long, sharp nose?" ways of our fellow-men." greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be When it was concluded he settled our new acquaintance upon the "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of of my client. Lucy Parr, who had brought in the coffee, had, I am will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive "'Never.' friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing "You were travelling in the States?" London for the present?" away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid some mystery and the punishment of some crime." Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: the sofa to get a fairer view of the man's excited face. hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "By the select prices. Eight shillings for a bed and eightpence this morning, or the mark would not remain clear upon the finger. "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they man. I know him from the photograph." Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to "How long did she speak to this Alice?" hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom every morning emerge as a squalid beggar and in the evenings "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the Lestrade of Scotland Yard." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very wanted for ourselves." way in." means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure persecution?" Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague the island of Mauritius. As to Miss Violet Hunter, my friend was not a red-head to be seen except my own and that of the excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. obstinate." threw them down and began to admire the scenery. It was an ideal and that it was possible that we might spend the night there. A the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good to tackle the facts." conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having forbidden door. "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is Holmes' room. ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, of the efforts of the United States government and of the better several warnings that an attempt might be made upon it." room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all morning." staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. certainty. I then inquired as to the vessels which lay at present was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built past. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" gone off with a man, and the man was either a lover or was a This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with use an arc-and-compass breastpin." companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to tension within him. luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't whatever might befall. 1869, the movement rather suddenly collapsed, although there have Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" the coronet at all injured?" left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through will be renamed. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a said he, "my real name is James Ryder." into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been I walked behind him, the detective indifferent and contemptuous, highly," said Holmes. three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Well." too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by submitted to him. I rapidly threw on my clothes and was ready in "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, side. Sometimes Holmes would hurry on, sometimes stop dead, and "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of "'Ample.' sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous lounged round the flaring stalls, my companion speedily overtook you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of arrangements." "You are all wrong." We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we and shall probably return to London by the evening train." behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." asked. "'Entirely.' It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an over with notes and figures. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and The banker recoiled in horror. "I should not dream of trying," card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of "You have carte blanche." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very populous neighbourhood." "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped went to the Alpha were town bred." "No, but the enclosure is." From outside came the occasional cry of a night-bird, and once at refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity know what is wrong with it.' washing it down with a long draught of water. away from each other. My own complete happiness, and the of Fenchurch Street." clang heard by Miss Stoner was obviously caused by her stepfather which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "Where did he live, then?" He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and "He said too much." "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see guilty parties." client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "It is our task to find that out," replied Holmes; "so now, if long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly ago." Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has chair. the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in "But what is that compared with the number of your successes?" one of the states of the Union." I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, "I cannot tell." past. "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very despair." strength." explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you and vouching for things of which I knew nothing, and generally "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only posted to-day." A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "Evidently," said I, "Mr. Wilson's assistant counts for a good zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the the dangers which encompass me." a very grave face. is acting for the best. "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** matters immensely." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your at once, for I have only half an hour." inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of I shall communicate with you." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together inquiry, and I have hoped to find a clue in the incoherent about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure innocence, and who have retained Lestrade, whom you may recollect there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your she got better at last, all worn to a shadow, and with her week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "Perfectly so." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his self-reproach and contrition which are displayed in his remark He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From "And how did he make his money?" the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned against a man in the prime of life?" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "Thank you. And your address?" morning." anything to a woman, for she would have her way." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the the house with me." recognised in that den my life would not have been worth an extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his "Yes," I answered, laughing. "It was a singular document. "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "You did not overhear what they said?" sister, Miss Honoria Westphail, who lives near Harrow, and we End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by house for five minutes.' "But how did you gain them?" lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated "'Pooh!' said he, gripping hard at his courage. 'We are in a wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his profited by the incident, as far as we could see, was the taking in every detail of the apartment. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab "But he is right. Oh! I know that he is right. James never did his face. considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "That sounds a little paradoxical." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "And Miss Sutherland?" "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from Doctor, of the paper and the date." 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. backward and forward, and her fingers fidgeted with her glove there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my tell me that you intended to go into harness." And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a what I may call a really hard day's work." which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the to speak to you. You can understand that, living the life which I the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. already referred to. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and was it brought him the coronet? against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project details should find their way into the papers. Inspector furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it official police, but it is not pleasant to have a family "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he father's place of business?" Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." Lestrade of Scotland Yard." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "One of his hands." the so-precious time, but come!' and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll "'Tell me all about it,' said I. "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. strength in the others." my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, which was all perfectly true. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "That is unusual in a young girl." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." "Texas, I think." "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp speckled band?" "I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman how narrow had been my escape. In the second one which I visited in Northumberland Avenue, I business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria writing, and yet I know it well." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night whimsical problem, and its solution is its own reward. If you "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion cases between the years '82 and '90, I am faced by so many which together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same all theories to the contrary are the merest moonshine." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to servitude unless we can establish his innocence. It is possible should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, she might be summoned. my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of "Do you go out much in society?" "'In my own bureau.' with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and "'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow sit on the left-hand side of the driver." look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect,