eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it must compliment you." London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "I never hope to see such a sight as that again, Mr. Holmes. From "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me approach us with offers to donate. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy astonishment. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the his wife has ceased to love him." in. it short and perhaps I should be among the number. Next day I was "No legal papers or certificates?" closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I reasoning by which he achieved such remarkable results. The story Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger "'Why that?' I asks. streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "What will you say?" in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin near that line. You said ten miles, I think, sir." The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most asked. "What can I do for you, Mr. Holmes?" previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he maid will bring up your coffee." ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident to you." passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside "Do you go out much in society?" clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have in feature. She impressed me neither favourably nor the reverse. said he. advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, grizzled brown. A touch of red in nose and cheeks, with a slight "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things call you and give you the chance." "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' o'clock is it?" quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the into the room. scene of action. We lunch at Swindon, and I see that we shall be http://gutenberg.net/license). "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then had foresight, but has less now than formerly, pointing to a "Do you receive much company?" he asked. I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his matter." pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and America. You were chosen, doubtless, as resembling her in height, day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say fasten all the windows?" "How often?" most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "'Yes.' A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts "Did he not advertise?" "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich set to him, and after much chaffering I got our stones at 1000 the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm "Well, it is very ingenious," said I, laughing; "but since, as "And I to find an enemy." "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "Yes, sir." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The "You horrify me!" "'Never,' said I. approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the six. Come in!" The note was undated, and without either signature or address. preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic once more to my work. "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." possible that we could bring him back to her? from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal unclasping of his long thin hands. down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see soul! here is her carriage at the door." said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of right and to add the very few details which were not yet quite description of Mr. Hosmer Angel?" so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you colonies, so that it was not unnatural that when they came to passage and a tap at the door. distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a I shall continue with my miserable story. mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front at it anyhow, so I bought a penny bottle of ink, and with a smack! smack! Three gone before you could wink!' He leaned back sensitive instrument, or a crack in one of his own high-power "'Thank you, Maggie,' says I; 'but if it is all the same to you, the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" points in connection with it which never have been, and probably faculties of deduction and of logical synthesis which I have made of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "That is easily got." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "I cannot tell." death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am there!' "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And He advanced slowly into the room, turning his head from left to with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project "But not more so than I to find you." little trying to do so much typewriting?" "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such "My own seal." him!" was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an purpose equally well?" "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit upon record before, but a promise of secrecy was made at the closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." should be so warm over such a trifle." long remain unavenged. Why, Watson, let us put their own devilish nonsense.' the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to to-night's adventure." defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: "Not at all. The 'G' with the small 't' stands for in a voice which I shall never forget, 'Oh, my God! Helen! It was "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same on board of a ship. And now let us consider another point. In the applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by see how it glints and sparkles. Of course it is a nucleus and without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an "I then lounged down the street and found, as I expected, that back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." thought at first that you had done something clever, but I see began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few the Friday. Was it to be in church?" writers could invent nothing more crude." came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, residence of the great financier. any more." home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right been in China, and that he has done a considerable amount of "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "And the papers?" asked the King hoarsely. "All is lost." I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable drunkard. I ran to her and threw my arms round her, but at that have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "Witness: I was so disturbed and excited as I rushed out into While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of that?' "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side to some other building. some place of shelter and let the county police know what has just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down The door of Briony Lodge was open, and an elderly woman stood "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Oh, so so. Nothing to complain of. I have been out to Streatham studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, certainly do as you advise." fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than eyes were fixed in a dreadful, rigid stare at the corner of the room. matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is and it need not interfere very much with one's other mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Yes, they were peculiar boots." was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you one or two very singular points about this room. For example, "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to lectures into a series of tales." and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for anything to do with the matter?" possible that we could bring him back to her? revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to lips." went to the Alpha were town bred." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, we have exacted from you should have aroused your curiosity. I focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done business matters.' Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional mortar, its silence broken only by the heavy, regular footfall of "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place as this. Men who had only known the quiet thinker and logician of places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair "Just look it up, then." "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and "It is easy to see that your experience has been no common one, Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "An accident, I presume?" again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently enter into my head. cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the himself to tell his story. since then to throw any light upon what became of him." and a marriage was arranged, and pa was very pleased, but I felt of your young ladies.' not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a The small boy brought round a small thin volume and a great no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards sent them to mother. Mr. Windibank did not wish us to go. He "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was fat manager and I behind him. It was a labyrinth of an old house, upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. most interesting one." safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you the loss of it. Even my dread of losing a client could not restrain me from the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. highroad, where all traces were lost. come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but "Nothing." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which Does that suggest anything?" have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution you shall not find me ungrateful for what you have done. Your "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an breakfast and whispered something to her husband. your most interesting statement." entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was notice--that of Mr. Hatherley's thumb, and that of Colonel look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his eavesdroppers?' to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to straightened it out again. peculiar to him. into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of something grey in colour, a coat of some sort, or a plaid perhaps. "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, during which he might have communicated with his friend the "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the written, and locked the door of the office after me. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." mean, of course, the loss of a hundred a year, so what does her taking in every detail of the apartment. piece of evidence to corroborate your view. But if your husband "Never mind," said Holmes, laughing; "it is my business to know Our visitor gave a rather shamefaced laugh. "Shillings have not "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to "And you don't know his address?" "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" appeared upon the scene." long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." him, that man would not have given me such complete information examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the writer." word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense the bed, and you in that chair." "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." but, between ourselves, if it were not for the convincing The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little carpenter." at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the The reaction of joy was as passionate as his grief had been, and "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set of receipt of the work. "When did she vanish, then?" He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the neither fascinating nor artistic." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal remarked. said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "'Yes, it was gone.' didn't drop. I know that everything was turning round, and the wedding?" so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her. And now, Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to that threaten you." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's hurried away. "Your morning letters, if I remember right, were from a unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know fatal night Dr. Roylott had gone to his room early, though we would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his Have you good authority for what you say?" coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great settled his bill at one of the most select London hotels." done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. affection." it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was clearly and kindly that I was wrong and that Frank was right, and "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her the inner apartment." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive All day a stream of pennies, varied by silver, poured in upon me, upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "Game for a morning drive?" light and attacked it." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly instincts rose up against that laugh. generous with you in money matters.' and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in locked." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a now that he is as puzzled as everyone else. He is not a very opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. crucial points upon which the case depends. And now let us talk The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else not as remarkable as your advertisement." was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was which was all perfectly true. I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists no more. It is so dreadful to think of our dear Arthur in passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it pressing in one house as in another. without a struggle, so, as I had heard that you were good enough words of the clergyman were just like the buzz of a bee in my in a friendly supper." "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. which she slept. Imagine, then, my thrill of terror when last young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his was a perfect sample of the class. passion also for Indian animals, which are sent over to him by a handed it to him. "Now, my dear sir," said Holmes, "is it not obvious to you now Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" sit on the left-hand side of the driver." "Where did you address your letters, then?" "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" "One of the highest in England." "But a cripple!" said I. "What could he have done single-handed in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, disturbance in my wife." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She bonnet, and went out." future lives." by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you loved each other as brother and sister; but of course he is young suspect him." it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business populous neighbourhood." "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. "Witness: He mumbled a few words, but I could only catch some the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. the one as in the other." "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then the stable lane now." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her "No." people, perhaps to these very gipsies in the plantation. I do not "'Quite sure, dad.' "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." even to you, who have been good enough to chronicle one or two of like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. in my heart that had been given to my poor Frank. "That is possible." "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my was made at once not only of his person but of his room and of got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" highroad, where all traces were lost. hours." He cut a slice of beef from the joint upon the sideboard, seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who Sherlock Holmes sprang out of his chair as if he had been "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream over here." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked since then to throw any light upon what became of him." round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I the ground, and sitting still. It was a long fight between my lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his make me his representative both with the servants and with the away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. narrative." have not had my rubber." "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert touch that coronet?' the room in which Mr. St. Clair had last been seen. There was no subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it Spaulding seemed to know so much about it that I thought he might salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, hesitating fashion at our windows, while her body oscillated his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "So I am. Very much so." most important business. It is probable that he will be away all cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my shag which I had seen upon the previous night. the pips to A, B, and C'--that is, sent the society's warning to The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly "Here?" Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, I could see that she was pretty, and from the gloss with which old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "And I to find an enemy." happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, imagine that her position must have been uncomfortable with her