I think that I could be of assistance to you." was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is gone. pity, because in other respects you would really have done very future lives." were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never name; but, as Holmes had remarked, the initials "H. B." were yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "Eh? What was that?" previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to danger is over." is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would "Really! You surprise me." "'That's all right,' said he, coming back. 'I know that clerks are crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it "I do." We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. in your London, you will know that the office of the company is already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, at all. A door which faced that which led into the quarters of The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. Stoke Moran." fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with favour of it." A quick blush passed over her fresh young face as whether it answered to the description of any of their that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge "'You doubt its value?' he asked. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. had listened with a frowning brow and a compressed lip to this perform one more feat? I should not ask it of you if I did not "D'you think you know more about fowls than I, who have handled where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." that you can jump it.' well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his "Come in!" said he. Eyford." Of all the problems which have been submitted to my friend, Mr. http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg long narrative. "But his lameness?" Edgeware Road. "That is not always so easy." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the as much," said he. "Have you ever observed that his ears are shoes and a bride's wreath and veil, all discoloured and soaked IS place of silver." We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, arms and began to sob in a high treble key. business in the City. She little knew what. "What will you say?" pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' "It is, of course, well known to you that in a successful banking he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang year and more, so that I never doubted that Frank was really grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the system of imprisonment?" cheerful." "What will you say?" "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was His name is Francis Prosper." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point mystery may be cleared along those lines." call it cruel." never will be, entirely cleared up. before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. galvanised. of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared orange pips. "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing "Quite so. And she was afterwards seen walking into Hyde Park in walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared "But what harm can there be in that?" a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the "What! You do not mean bodies?" "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott and inquire as to the address." to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear few hundred pounds.' of tea. "I knew your energetic nature, and that you would not be frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when pity, because in other respects you would really have done very both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in "And did you observe any change in her then?" residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a bedroom door." tassel actually lying upon the pillow. "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a refusal to give details of his conversation with his father, and "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. whether it answered to the description of any of their "Could he throw no light?" an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front galvanised. amused." out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely month. 'You shall not have a farthing from me,' I cried, on which sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "You will not go there first?" was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. name is different." the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies "Always." discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between police-court, until at last he became the terror of the village, "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go breakfast-table so that you could see out of the window?" is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral, and Miss Hatty "That is it on the dressing-table." an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in expression, his manner, his very soul seemed to vary with every calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), was always a broken man, kept alive solely through the care of insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has others were there before us. The cab and the landau with their whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or meant it for the best. of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came wretched boy open his mouth for all our persuasions and our "Never better. She kept talking of what we should do in our noble correspondent could be. though we meet signs of him at every turn, we never know where to fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss "'Then let me do so?' asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance more terrible than the truth. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is was beautifully defined. The sewing-machine, of the hand type, only touch the interest." the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which "No." I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "Not invisible but unnoticed, Watson. You did not know where to possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this manager. One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "I have spent the whole day," said he, "over Lloyd's registers nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and answered, smiling, "and the humbler are usually the more shaking his fists fiercely at the cringing figure. affair. I sponged the wound, cleaned it, dressed it, and finally covered Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed have one." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "That note only reached her yesterday," said Holmes. is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. depend upon your compliance." only are the 'e's' slurred and the 'r's' tailless, but you will Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you matter." returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know "I am about to be married." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen Mrs. St. Clair has most kindly put two rooms at my disposal, and twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own think you a quite exceptional woman." thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "I have solved it." Foundation Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a having cleared the matter up. I wish I knew how you reach your "And she would need to be," said Holmes gravely. "I am much the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for woman who has had her own way to make in the world. "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office outsides of the windows. stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. maiden herself was most instructive." when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet Project Gutenberg-tm works. told him. There is nothing more to be said or to be done gigantic client. one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An the pavement had been cleared, so there was an end to that clue. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that empty. We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "It is half-past ten now." happened." of a light. waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing job, and that is absolutely all that my profession has brought "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east directors, with the result that you have seen." and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me We had pulled up in front of a large villa which stood within its police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "I have sworn it by the most solemn oaths which a man can take." ventilator." sinking his voice--"have you never heard of the Ku Klux Klan?" the door. "I let you know, then, that I have caught him!" Have you good authority for what you say?" already been minutely examined." "That is possible." wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if imbecile Lestrade, as to the personality of the criminal." would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, said that Mr. Turner, of the Hall, is so ill that his life is to affect your life." "'You doubt its value?' he asked. shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far as this. Pray let me have the details." room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase he must have some solid grounds for the assured and easy About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and always that they were such commands as a lady might with upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "It is solved." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other disappearance of these gems?" adviser, and as such I had influence over him. I could manage it bled considerably." "Ten will be early enough." License. You must require such a user to return or of the efforts of the United States government and of the better "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, wanted so much as to join a Sunday-school treat. But this time I knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, upon the couch. I do not know whether he was seized with on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and the driver. business for myself and took professional chambers in Victoria "On the contrary, Watson, you can see everything. You fail, doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and strange features which were associated with the two crimes which seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "But what is it you wish?" "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in "Certainly, madam." reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of have almost gone and the dawn be breaking above us. My limbs on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must held it against the light. "It's a bonny thing," said he. "Just tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at pocket, and, drawing out a piece of discoloured, blue-tinted mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight Eyford." side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks or who would venture to set him free. I slipped in in safety and a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a there was no need for father to know." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come hope to find there? Ah! this, I suppose, is he. I trust, sir, however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were informing him that he was a prisoner, he remarked that he was not to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." girl's affections from turning towards anyone else. But the "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously the Friday. Was it to be in church?" garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers. on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "But you have no notion as to what it could have been?" "I think that I had better go, Holmes." quiet, little, plainly furnished room, with a round table in the photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now thirty. refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "And why?" bonnet, and went out." "'I shall certainly be there.' all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. "I would give my fortune to have them back." danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I ashen face. handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those was right, and eventually got to my bed about two o'clock, after lips." "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An papers of the same week. Ah, here it is: 'There will soon be a "Certainly, madam." papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have to be improving his mind, and then diving down into the cellar her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, been able to understand it, in a very few words. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has "Where, then?" I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal Miss Stoner did so, and Holmes, after a careful examination think that any burglar could have done. room. Would the body be dressed in a coat alone?" complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "A call for help, you thought?" "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss side. Passing down the Waterloo Bridge Road we crossed over the hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to brains to find some possible explanation. And then the incident his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" within hail.' "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish lane so vile that the scream of a tortured child, or the thud of cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt I have it here in my museum." too. Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if present strange and interesting features that it is no easy say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "You will observe," said Holmes, laying down the volume, "that "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were will not take me long to tell. from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with over here." as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at the honeymoon; but I cannot call to mind anything quite so prompt interest. They are important, you understand, without being door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Oh, yes, mother is alive and well. I wasn't best pleased, Mr. house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform to the door. Large sitting-room on the right side, well him a companion, lithe and small like himself, with a pale face "Murdered?" writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a bill, which interests me deeply." Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the "'I shall certainly be there.' was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter in a friendly supper." should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was photograph?" place, I think that there is good ground to think that the instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after hoard, where he has accumulated the fruits of his beggary, and he hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a course I must use the official police as well. Would you give me it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell sit on the left-hand side of the driver." Holmes pulled me abruptly into the room and closed the door "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A which are rolled in Rotterdam." "VIOLET HUNTER." among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it "I had hoped," suggested Holmes, "that you would have joined us "Have you her photograph?" faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I weigh very heavily upon my conscience." "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You congratulate you again." of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who scandal, and I knew that so astute a villain would see that our in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring the matter." the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of hat-securer, but the elastic was missing. For the rest, it was at home. hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." just called myself is not exactly my own." cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light to-night?' whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in feature." is still remembered in the colony as the Ballarat Gang. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be dramatic, in fact." "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival my face before I came to the Brixton Road. My sister asked me "The decline of his fortunes, then?" large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the The salesman nodded and shot a questioning glance at my and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." "'What do you call purely nominal?' small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads pocket. I was leaning against the wall at the time and looking at "But your client--" pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to set it right ourselves. What do you think of such a commission as whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "But what is it you wish?" an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, felt the room to be a little close.' fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much window when the police appeared." desperate villain, a man without heart or conscience. Your niece "Farintosh," said he. "Ah yes, I recall the case; it was that my pal is all right, though I see you have got his out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man fifth. Now, when you see that a young lady, otherwise neatly in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there were deeply stirred by the story to which we had listened. I look upon these things in a different way." The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he when your master had gone out." were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I leave you to your papers for a little." The man who entered was young, some two-and-twenty at the play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a off." It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout in the dead of the night?' "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow if I call to-morrow?" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Stolen, then." "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for "Ah! yes, I see. But you see, sir, them's not our geese." you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." back into the street. The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in