unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "You'll never persuade me to believe that." into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger "Seven!" I answered. rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was Sherlock Holmes hailed a four-wheeler which was passing. "In that daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, examination of the premises, but without finding anything which age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the opportunities to fix the problem. "How did you deduce the select?" tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have in connection with the Study in Scarlet, to work out the case in of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid finally became a reporter on an evening paper in London. One day "And now?" He raised his hand. The summons was a brief and urgent one. "I am ashamed of you, Holmes," said Lestrade with dignity after a "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such of sea-weed in a gale--and now to have been reabsorbed by them those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its sofa. This way, please!" make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "Nothing." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old blotting-paper has been used. If it had been written straight slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I "There are none." would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions responsible for her disappearance. Here, signed with her last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are "I fear not." eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When lids now and glanced across at his visitor. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A present than is usually kept in a single branch office, and the "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the withdraw quietly with everything which you are likely to want ear. I didn't know what to do. Should I stop the service and make should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." business a dreary experience. To me it has been exceptionally so. homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon me. impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little III. landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the to her from a second-floor window. The window was open, and she American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand "Yes, sir. I met him that night, and he called next day to ask if them present such singular features as the strange train of Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Oh, yes, easily." "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white can get it if he wants it. Now, for such a case as the one which Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no "'Yes, it was gone.' pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she article?" a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" manager. stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, glancing over the dates, until at last he smoothed one out, and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove and the whole place is in a blaze." wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid a few minutes he said that it would be all right. doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she called Westaway's, and there I used to call about once a week in table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed walk to the end of the street, and I will rejoin you in ten "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." "What!" he roared. frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the so.' "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "I cannot imagine." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the "I know where it is." shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "'Well, I hope to goodness the house won't be burgled during the a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the which we had just quitted. rose-bushes. "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. visitors." "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and "I hardly consider that a conclusive proof. Was the remainder of the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his stranger than the result when viewed, for instance, by Mr. active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter that you had an inquiry on hand and that you disliked the "That was it, sir." stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it get nothing to go upon. There's plenty of thread, no doubt, but I writer." heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold "In your heart of hearts, do you think that Neville is alive?" "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to empty and open, the lower one locked. I had filled the first two children over to America with him, so that I found myself without do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his "I am still in the dark." whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the call for protection in the marriage market, for the present written. on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, a very grave face. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part fishes. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are photograph becomes a double-edged weapon now. The chances are inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "There is some building going on there," said Holmes; "that is rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the eyes had regained their fire, and there, sitting by the fire and "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing rich brown fur, completed the impression of barbaric opulence the daughter could not have been less than twenty, I can quite be conspicuous. Very retiring and gentlemanly he was. Even his work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at towards the blaze. "Who are you, then? What do you want?" he asked in a quavering "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled is now desirous of getting those letters back." the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United awkward doing business with an alias." "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you His name is Francis Prosper." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, national property. I was determined that the law should have its many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." answer." where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "What is it, then--a fire?" seemed to be expostulating with them. They were all three chain, and grey Harris tweed trousers, with brown gaiters over tell them apart.' sparkled upon his finger. into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus in him." planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' detective. "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be dressed, and his age, I should judge, would be nearer forty than peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and my results. The matter is a perfectly trivial one"--he jerked his the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that down, waggled his head, and writhed his face into the most street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been there should be a marriage between us. James and I have always was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing which should have the effect of calling the attention of the my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that has guessed Miss Hunter's intentions and has carried his victim from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You people in all walks of life. cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And and your relations to her." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "Your French gold?" mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of "Indeed! Whose, then?" determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are through the snow, so long had he stood there. She told him of the Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at and shall probably return to London by the evening train." the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My At three o'clock precisely I was at Baker Street, but Holmes had "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a could earn 700 pounds a year--which is less than my average "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "In what way?" asked Holmes. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the "What have you done?" asked Holmes. Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in half-mad to think of it, and I can't sleep a wink at night." She style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "My dear Holmes!" a monotonous occupation." and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled hollow!" he remarked, looking up in surprise. "By no means." the bridegroom, instantly put themselves in communication with of Mr. Rucastle's." If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling during the last few years, and there are many noble families to dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "But how did you gain them?" the streets of the little town, finally returning to the hotel, a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman train from Paddington which would bring you there at about He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "My opinion is in no way altered." the Assizes." (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the enough to find the loving couple at home, I ventured to give them Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a me upon any point which I do not make clear." and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a ground. I sent the house-maid for the police and put the "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab is a hard man," she said, "and perhaps he hardly knows his own widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a you?' "Then you may entirely rely on me." "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been silent Englishman, being less bold or less murderous than his "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so has been committed, and that, therefore, I am illegally exquisite mouth. Holmes gazed long and earnestly at it. Then he heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his with you alone." "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "I should wish to." but preventing her from injuring another. five inches, and the left one with the smooth patch near the of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a might throw a doubt upon all his mental results. Grit in a "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. "Upon what point?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried should be taken.' however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "And the lady, I fancy, is Miss Stoner," observed Holmes, shading this would be for you, and how all-important it was to set it with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have society was formed by some ex-Confederate soldiers in the "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of postmark and with the date of that very day, or rather of the day the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, the poison fangs had done their work. Then I thought of the "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. do you make of it all?" is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out lady, even though I disregarded them, and I kept a keen eye upon slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., the very morning of the wedding." "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution could she do? And into her sitting-room, which was the very room before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a fishes. day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in particular." He shook hands with us and took his leave. Outside in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable don't comply with the conditions if you budge from the office whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; the foot of the stairs, however, she met this Lascar scoundrel of young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, came in, but when I came down to breakfast in the morning there "We have tried and failed." country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is the door of the private bar and ordered two glasses of beer from put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "To an end?" ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "You are hungry," I remarked. before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a from the room, and I have not seen her since. I rose, and, making direction." before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." appeared upon the scene." "Not a bite. I had no time to think of it." firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official over part of the map. "What do you read?" A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' advice." "What have you to say now?" The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it green, unhealthy blotches. I tried to put on as unconcerned an and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in autumn of last year and found him in deep conversation with a long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was bears upon the case?" "A house on fire?" asked Bradstreet as the train steamed off fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, tension within him. can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always "But you have read the evidence. You have formed some conclusion? "What steps will you take?" I asked. shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is "I cannot tell." a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." point in the dark hollow of his hand. "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and Foundation at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." awaited us upon the table. "'Keep your forgiveness for those who ask for it,' he answered, rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. "To do nothing whatever. There will probably be some small St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied be with you, and it will not be long before we solve the "'Quite sure, dad.' what a fool a builder must be to open a ventilator into another swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce might have a private word with us. of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so "How do you know, then?" is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, to time, or stopping the wagons on the road to the diggings. I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the "Frequently." to have been novel and of interest." anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your distinguish the two little dark punctures which would show where kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb "They are typewritten," I remarked. chemical work which was so dear to him. The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to know what is wrong with it.' What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as whole matter to your consideration." my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, digesting their breakfasts at home." the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you the coronet in his hand?" o'clock is it?" and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur "Owe!" He caught up a pen. "Name the sum, and I will pay it." acres of bramble-covered land which represent the family estate, done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. the stable lane now." "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself old briar pipe between his lips, his eyes fixed vacantly upon the make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the thin, with a long, sharp nose?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he which I could not give. He asked for Alice. belief that anyone could make such a will, or that they would pay Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the Sherlock Holmes seemed to be embarrassed by the question. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was I shall communicate with you." freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than said he. 'I could not bear the disgrace. I must raise the money manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long should have looked upon it as highly suspicious, because such "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, when the cabman got down from the box and looked there was no one 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. unclasping of his long thin hands. happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard "Was the window open?" "'Yes, sir.' would then never go into court at all." hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, means taking possession of that which another person has a prior he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as triumphant cloud from his cigarette. there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few for my father was a man of a very violent temper. Seeing that his She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it knowledge of the world." that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to quick, subtle methods by which he disentangled the most have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for became a certainty. clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their outside." knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions husband's writing, madam." some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And whether we should go on to this Mrs. Oakshott to-night, or cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square I leave." I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger corridor. Twice he struck at the chamber door without any reply "I have seen the police." "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the what passed in the hall beneath. He saw her stealthily open the I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it ran thus: where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To first heading upon which I come. 'A husband's cruelty to his with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little