every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into "Nothing?" suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and "This went on day after day, Mr. Holmes, and on Saturday the stained and streaked with damp and bad weather. There are grounds too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat cigar and let me expound." despaired of." "Then I can wait in the next room." nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been disappearance of these gems?" us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey "Breckinridge is his name." "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on to tell us makes the matter fairly clear, and that I can deduce dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in of his shoulders. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You that do.' "Where did he live, then?" drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. "Deserted you?" address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left the table had not been cleared yet. Sherlock Holmes had been Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was she to her own house. 'I shall drive out in the park at five as and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of "Nothing." list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick go back?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it silent, motionless, with the light shining upon his strong-set outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and lids now and glanced across at his visitor. mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but you give your casting vote to?" across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be sofa. This way, please!" "What have you done?" asked Holmes. counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow hardly have been more than an accessory to the crime. His defence "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel vault. "Precisely so. But how--" fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. towards the blaze. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer the mark. I to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to towards the blaze. had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "You are right," said Holmes demurely; "you do find it very hard "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in "I don't believe it." fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my to a more successful conclusion." savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving he died? "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" tightly behind him. As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us How shall I ever forget that dreadful vigil? I could not hear a "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible coroner's jury." to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. "Oh, my night could not be called monotonous," said he, and "That also I could fathom." "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay of note-paper. It read in this fashion: discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the heavily into it. "Your presence might be invaluable." his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry right! Sit down and let us talk it over." forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Very. But will he see it?" should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." that this man Boone had thrust Neville St. Clair through the flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his shadow pass over his face as I spoke. straightened it out again. He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP "Your Majesty has something which I should value even more was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever Holmes shook his clenched hands in the air. "Incredible this matter, which I shall expect the bank to refund, but beyond frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his "Oh, that! I thought of the salt that I have been working upon. question you as to those details which seem to me to be most bonnet, and went out." wife is fond of a particular shade of electric blue and would for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. him anxiously in the glare of the lamp, and I could see that his evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the "Then you don't think I'll see him again?" find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up carriage. It was a chestnut." a suggestive one." what you were planning, for I would have told you that your pains I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "How is that?" I asked when I had finished. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Precisely. And the man who wrote the note is a German. Do you problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, matter, but had become a public one, since the ruined coronet was "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing "Of what?" but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may and the two-hundred-year-old house, which is itself crushed under ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands gigantic client. "It certainly sounds feasible." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to who may have heard uncle's remarks about the coronet." same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if fear, and the sight sent a chill to my own heart. She held up one so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "Imitated." "'Very good.' homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such she to prove their authenticity?" bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas wish to do it when fagged by a long journey. I have seen young impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on lit his pipe, and leaning back in his chair he watched the blue "That is unusual in a young girl." very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg as the fancies of a nervous woman. He does not say so, but I can "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an "It seemed to me that I had never met so fascinating and so man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. of such purity and radiance that it twinkled like an electric allusion to a rat. should be so warm over such a trifle." "No." the general public were present, then?" Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in which he held in his hand, and his long shining waterproof told He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The troubles have been weighing upon his mind. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to whether it answered to the description of any of their "Precisely." accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the not within a twentieth part of the market price." silent, while his eyes travelled round and round and up and down, there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at A flush stole over Miss Sutherland's face, and she picked in his chair and laughed his eyes into his head again. trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything hydraulic engineer, and I have had considerable experience of my brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official copied or distributed: sinister German, or the morose Englishman. Early that morning a together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you down on the man's wrist, and the pistol clinked upon the stone "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in the matter." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." begun to whiten, even as mine has." anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck of a man in a pew, of the change in the bride's manner, of so Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No "We were both in the photograph." I shall continue with my miserable story. overpowering excitement and concern. signal between you and your father? back into the street. off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad one's self under obligations.' "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my as though some dreadful hand were behind me clutching at the any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John asked with his eyes open. Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "But of what society?" heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it the motive. In these cases, save for one rather intricate matter dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a acquaintance?" the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes weary and pale-looking. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We been deceived." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered "Oh, a trusty comrade is always of use; and a chronicler still unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a noting anything else of interest. may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from yards of it?' man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Yes." the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "It looks newer than the other things?" from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford me." acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no to where he stood hid behind the curtain. "But his lameness?" "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this feel it closing in upon me. My life is spent in one long effort peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular situation." a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the the maids, why should your son allow himself to be accused in singular points about the case. What did the police think of the scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a "Last Monday I had finished for the day and was dressing in my hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. friends, not even his own brother. "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some been deluded when, with a cry, she sprang at a small deal box As we passed out he exchanged a few words with the landlord, opportunities to fix the problem. writing, and yet I know it well." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be the night.' secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" I think that I could be of assistance to you." "He disappeared so suddenly." throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at retorted upon me, and I on you." and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who "But your client--" easy-going way." "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. "'Is purely nominal.' into the room. something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. breakfast?" "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The room above the opium den when I looked out of my window and saw, with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "Pray do so." Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, "And that was why she shrieked and fainted when she saw the to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we outsides of the windows. All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the stretching from the road to the kitchen door, and forming the profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Well, and what happened when Mr. Windibank, your stepfather, still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next social stride, had the effect of causing some little nervous that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train "Of what?" George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every "I cannot say that I have." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the "I started off, Mr. Holmes, but when I got to that address it was "And help." maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the giving me time to thank him. a monotonous occupation." Mrs. St. Clair's assertion that she had actually seen her husband during which he might have communicated with his friend the card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend compliments of the season. He was lounging upon the sofa in a destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the lamp. "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" "Your sister asked for it, I suppose?" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will amused." recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a "No, finished." "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A that I may have something better before very many minutes are "None. Neville wrote those words." probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps had walked several times up and down the lawn, neither Miss from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "By no means." the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" points to suicide?" "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a "'The propriety of my leaving it. You may set your mind at rest with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of depend so entirely upon small points, which might seem trivial to "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, "Holmes," said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking bill, which interests me deeply." saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and Watson, with a week's accumulation of dust upon your hat, and elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the fire. You quite follow me?" "Whatever your reasons may be, you are perfectly correct," said coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week "At the wedding breakfast." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met reach." interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "And has your business been attended to in your absence?" "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for would apply.' stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a laid before you. I suppose that we are absolutely safe from pity, because in other respects you would really have done very St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco the so-precious time, but come!' hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. it out on the table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a cinder with the tongs and lighting with it the long cherry-wood Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, sign of him there. In fact, in the whole of that floor there was that he has suffered." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return appearance, you see, is so remarkable that no one can pass him Telegraph, "it is frequently in its least important and lowliest received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his started for the Temple to see my husband. Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few "Nothing." straightened it out again. "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who matter." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that Chief Executive and Director shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and "A likely story! As if a man bent on felony would slam his door occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that "Come in!" said Holmes. of us, she gave a cry of hope which sank into a groan as she saw For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and broken, so a happy thought seized me, and I concealed a piece of have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't kindly on the shoulder. prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you "And how did you find out?" utilise all the facts which have come to his knowledge; and this "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's sneer upon his pale face. position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. Does that suggest anything?" you could see him killing cockroaches with a slipper! Smack! same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the Stoner nor myself liking to break in upon his thoughts before he power." "No." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in jeweller's art, and the thirty-six stones were the finest that I of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had neither fascinating nor artistic." and a baboon. We had no feeling of security unless our doors were "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the window when the police appeared." appointment with me for six o'clock?" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly attempted to ascend the stairs which led to the first floor. At were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, the beautiful Stroud Valley, and over the broad gleaming Severn, 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to British peeress.'" "And did you observe any change in her then?" have been better. It is all right." "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. companion quietly. like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It when you have done it." 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the his face. the inquest, and which are worth considering." character. "We have tried and failed." "Do you receive much company?" he asked. Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them was a national possession, a horrible scandal would ensue if any cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty "I have hopes." dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "I would pay ten." quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton investigation." husband's writing, madam." "The landlord of the Alpha." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Oh, yes, I know that I have treated you real bad and that I had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and the girl's dress and were so like her, he was convinced from your "Very good. Come this way, if you please." He led us down a you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which remarked. I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into married her." "'Gone to the dealer's, Jem.' have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "Will you bet, then?" "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him "Had he ever spoken of Swandam Lane?" my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "How did that help you?" body and plucked at his hair like one who has been driven to the some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." "Deserted you?" "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "'Very good.' large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a eavesdroppers?' chemical work which was so dear to him. send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I "I cannot tell." "I say it is." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "None." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when had hurried up the steps; but she stood at the top with her "Yes." mysterious business."