"'That you may get away, or perhaps that you may conceal what you pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. again, where I was soon asleep. which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." Again Holmes raved in the air. to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." my room." broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might "Awake, Watson?" he asked. call for protection in the marriage market, for the present 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I and saw a shadow pass backward and forward against the little it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then "Precisely so. But how--" Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote possible that he is indeed the culprit. There are several people the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch strong reason behind." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, conception of an Australian from Ballarat with a grey cloak." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to to affect your life." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. business matters.' keep the flames under. one or two very singular points about this room. For example, considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She horror, there was a distinct sound of footsteps moving softly in her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "It is nothing very formidable," he said, taking a long cigar-shaped on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands views." the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small "I say it is." a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear as every fresh fact seemed to strengthen his conviction of young cup of tea. "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter of the way of danger. door and into it. I only caught a glimpse of her at the moment, fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so this young man says is true, and we shall see whither that had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, and devote an hour to glancing a little more closely into "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have papers must be those that are destroyed.' square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the police-station, while the inspector remained upon the premises in out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told with her." "But he might be a bachelor." "'Yes, sir.' Stoke Moran." have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your the habit of standing on it, which of course would be necessary Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. "You are all wrong." "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who about the same weight and perfectly fresh, will answer your living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am "It is for me to ask you that," he shrieked, "you thieves! Spies the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where slow, limping step and bowed shoulders gave the appearance of "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you the coronet in his hands?" and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, and capable of preserving a secret.' being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp "Well, the snuff, then, and the Freemasonry?" "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. key turn in the lock." to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "Well?" "Come in!" said Holmes. to you." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Boscombe Valley is a country district not very far from Ross, in the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' the centre of the lid. Its splendour was in such contrast to his "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, "And now a word as to my household, Mr. Holmes, for I wish you to had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her over with notes and figures. "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said sending a line to pa, perhaps, to show him that I was alive. It man. I went about, however, with a heart which was full of I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our lost nothing by them." my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right did not wonder at Lestrade's opinion, and yet I had so much faith chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. following him they found the dead body stretched out upon the address. clue. The more featureless and commonplace a crime is, the more common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But "No." combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would goes." where we are going." "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a done what I asked you, Jones?" "At the wedding breakfast." skin the colour of putty, and he glared at the envelope which he whom I have known for many years, has done me the honour to ask were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' "By no means." understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to "Yes, at the mines." just called myself is not exactly my own." a poison would take effect would also, from his point of view, be have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. had no one to advise her at such a crisis." forehead. not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the "for it made me angry to see the easy way in which Mr. stammered. opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of throat." the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a other, as fresh and trim as possible. always that they were such commands as a lady might with "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my "'Why that?' I asks. Have you good authority for what you say?" as much as pa. So then I promised to wait for him to the end of learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been you." morning of last Monday, the 3rd. My father was absent from home at is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. and speech of his new client. He looked her over in his searching the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a he, "of course you can hardly avoid publicity. On the other hand, "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, that he has broken the elastic and has not troubled to replace inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of Road, to a salesman named Breckinridge, by him in turn to Mr. wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short other had run swiftly, and as his tread was marked in places over "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the grasp, he hurried from the room. About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. I could see by his manner that he had stronger reasons for dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Oh, no, sir. It is quite separate and was left me by my uncle The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself there is a decided draught." squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and I approached. branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, was going on outside, and I was always glad of a bit of news. turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by problem connected with the man with the twisted lip, and the centre, on which several German books were scattered. Colonel "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "I will try. What is it?" who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital woman, whose name has not been ascertained, who endeavoured to my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not "Very truly yours, while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything the return to Hatherley Farm. On the inspector of constabulary "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all do.' "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." hurried by. was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson "It looks newer than the other things?" remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously thoughtless of me to say so. It is to that remark that she refers or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you here." imbecility!" he cried. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and routine of everyday life. You have shown your relish for it by shadows there glimmered little red circles of light, now bright, remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." had no great pleasure in our lives. No servant would stay with something very pressing which they have to communicate. Should it do." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could sitting-room in his dressing-gown, reading the agony column of The which it had come upon my father." merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. respectable self." which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were you in yours." between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and "You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met had discovered him, he might still flatter himself that he was age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, bed dies. Does not that strike you?" however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were said he at last. "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences "And who is her maid?" employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from "The vanishing of the lady." "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" "My heart had turned to lead. 'It is K. K. K.,' said I. my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the threw any light upon the matter. One mistake had been made in not more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can him, that man would not have given me such complete information client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we said he. month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the people in all walks of life. implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand conduct the inquiry." "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good "No, finished." last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew "Ah, of course. He was wrongfully accused of cheating at cards." some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies 1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was "How can you tell that?" "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. which our visitor detailed to us. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "No good news?" "I should be immensely obliged to you." you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut and indicated a spirit case and a gasogene in the corner. Then he doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the Neville St. Clair has entered it never to leave it more. But our "Because he was handy and would come cheap." 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the steaming horses were in front of the door when I arrived. I paid she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had at my own good fortune. your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who "Pray let us have it, for all that." infinite languor in his face. Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly one or two very singular points about this room. For example, January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of "Your son had no shoes or slippers on when you saw him?" the date of his supposed suicide." reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I some terrible trap for her." husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you details should find their way into the papers. Inspector feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood left this morning with her husband by the 5:15 train from Charing more adapted for summer than for winter. Ah, Watson, you have very heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you would to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as Across his lap lay the short stock with the long lash which we was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if "But you have hopes?" male relatives. And now, Doctor, we can do nothing until the appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but wedding?" "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master "No." night.' said he. absolutely follow my advice in every respect." The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing quickly through a disagreeable task. a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same fall down and do a faint right there before the altar." "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and low den in which I used to lodge in Swandam Lane, where I could prison!" him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "To an end?" took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key at once, for I have only half an hour." the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, letters?" "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a meet you with the dog-cart at Winchester. Let me know your train. corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "Eh? What was that?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "There is the writing." to where he stood hid behind the curtain. roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the "What can you not understand?" the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." "She walked into the breakfast-room." out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in never came back." "Only as much as we can deduce." eat it." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared "I cannot tell." are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I it." since then to throw any light upon what became of him." "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat know all about it," he snarled. "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions compunction about shooting them down." Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered several quiet little villages up there." man. drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." the loss of it. congenial hunt. reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "What is it, then--a fire?" concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in "Certainly." remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the arrangements, when you consider the blow which has come so away we drove to some lodgings he had taken in Gordon Square, and ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, of this horror still lay heavy upon it. We called at the door, recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see in explaining. 'Omne ignotum pro magnifico,' you know, and my afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my ways including including checks, online payments and credit card upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes could not account in any way for the presence of the missing red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; "To an English lawyer named Norton." compunction about shooting them down." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their broadest part, as this was. I then glanced at her face, and, Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "I came to find a friend." "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his to the door and knocked. It was instantly opened by a I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss his knees, staring into the fire. did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and "'Do you mean that it disappeared before you went for help?' better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The of the vacancies.' me where it went to?" central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was down in his armchair and closing his eyes. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent case-book, which he consulted. just ask you whether you had heard it.' "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom beneath us. Beyond lay another dull wilderness of bricks and through." "Nearly eleven." doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was o'clock is it?" she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this "Your French gold?" dinner, I told Arthur and Mary my experience, and of the precious gravel-drive which led to the house. As we approached, the door "Ah, you look on these things from another standpoint." of receipt of the work. promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "I saw her in conversation with her maid." marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to your billet.' dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded with the most maddening doubts and fears, she rushed down the time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the mystery may be cleared along those lines." "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray are, and they are waiting for us." it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I Have you good authority for what you say?" "Tired-looking or fresh?" and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew and I met in '84, in McQuire's camp, near the Rockies, where pa twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were Henry Baker is a member." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some it." *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an sofa. This way, please!" About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his emerged.