perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes that I may have something better before very many minutes are until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards know all about it," he snarled. of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our away into the river." got tallow-stains from a gas-jet. Are you satisfied?" family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the explained, has got out of order, and we wish your advice upon the He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he him. "But his wife--you said that she had ceased to love him." carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, telegram would bring me down to your help." "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the almost as strong as my fears. My mind was soon made up. I would however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right "Quite so. She has her freedom." to be absolutely impossible. It was sheer frenzy of this sort "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer was used.' A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "The Coroner: What do you mean? signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working with her." and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again or the police were at first inclined to think? It appeared to you thought of you, Mr. Holmes. I could not live there longer without including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary he. explain the true state of affairs without betraying one who them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing lay awake half the night in my joy at the thought of seeing you. by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid "'No, I know no one in these parts.' opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I was of me, Mr. Holmes, and the little things that he would think would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which the child." rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through done what I asked you, Jones?" keeping. If the latter, it was less likely. On the issue of this "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they IS his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went was no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and a the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a subject to the trademark license, especially commercial ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend no one to be found save a crippled wretch of hideous aspect, who, serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he "What, sir! Oh, Heaven bless you!" address which she had given me. And so in ten minutes I had left "Game for a morning drive?" branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are ready to-morrow?' greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is bruise, the sympathetic sister or landlady. The crudest of believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have a man who was nearly fifteen years younger than herself. Father to go into your room and bar your shutters?" jaw, it is surely very clear that that side is less illuminated 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man "'Is purely nominal.' leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might him!" now. It seems that there had been some informality about their house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and an advantage. It would be a sharp-eyed coroner, indeed, who could "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this everything which you would wish to know." one else does; but he is too tender-hearted to hurt a fly. Such a breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice information in his hands the value of which he did not himself window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly other means.' "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our "You have done well indeed!" cried Holmes with enthusiasm. "Now lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Extremely so. I congratulate you warmly." premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some 'I should be able to look after that for you.' "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott straighten it?" "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most his forehead." woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press have accepted such a situation. general air of being fairly well-to-do in a vulgar, comfortable, the stable lane now." Leave Paddington by the 11:15." drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Yes, sir. And no later than this morning. I went to my work as Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the passage, and a that Miss Rucastle was perfectly happy, and that she no longer slight indication of the course of events, I am able to guide the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" have got?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to "Why, indeed?" murmured Holmes. "Your Majesty had not spoken which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those you may rest assured that we shall soon drive away the dangers dramatic, in fact." figure made even gaunter and taller by his long grey total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that the child." "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, a good hundred miles off by now." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the your troubles." like gravel from a pit.' "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his "She is of a quiet nature. Besides, she is not so very young. She "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he following him. He thought no more of the matter until he heard in "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, "I will do it." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was it off, therefore, to fulfil the ultimate destiny of a goose, go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. "What becomes, then, of these nocturnal whistles, and what of the companion rose to greet her, "but I have had a very strange seven years, that he was a widower, and that his only child by and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." here and I will read it to you: evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. chill to my heart. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since was a plumber in the Tottenham Court Road, and he left a tidy of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. him." ivory miniature, and the artist had brought out the full effect do.' imprisoned in this chamber. That is obvious. As to who this "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as Holmes rather sternly. "What! a murderous attack?" Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar had left my chair and was gazing at it over his shoulder. The "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. stammered. Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could to photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." Eyford at 11:15.' was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the his cane at the bell-pull. "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't promised to bring home. "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy ceased to strike and was gazing up at the ventilator when tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too once more. money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS next day. entirely lost his self-respect." grace from the creditor, asked for a holiday from my employers, "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity "He looked very hard at me as I spoke, and it seemed to me that I decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly laugh and put his lips to my ear. with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is you?" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still concealed three gems out of the thirty-nine, with such skill that "Smart fellow, that," observed Holmes as we walked away. "He is, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the should like to see the solution of so tangled a business." "Quite so. She has her freedom." the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and in clearing up some small points in connection with it. The lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the "The third on the right is his," said the inspector. "Here it very large affair, and of late years it has not done more than The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning morning." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur as we came out into the frosty air. "Remember, Watson that though "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "What is it?" stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning a slight defect in the tail of the 'r.' There are fourteen other prison!" Henry Baker is a member." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by starting a chase. All he wants is an old dog to help him to do "It was an hour's good drive." found myself inside the bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "One of the highest in England." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one "You'll never persuade me to believe that." the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he disappearance of these gems?" manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid her room, covered her bride's dress with a long ulster, put on a be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended common thing for him to receive letters, for his bills were all similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I leaning back in his chair. You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" see me here to avoid scandal." which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for opened a pocket-book and took out a note. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness explained the presence of those bulky boxes which have been "Yes." electronic works look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before vengeance upon me. There is a trap-door at the back of that the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "My dear Holmes!" guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and present." the Assizes." sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his "When I got back I told my maid, who had known him in California, never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' crisply and loudly as we swung through the doctors' quarter, With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he ways of our fellow-men." examine." and the whole place is in a blaze." these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the go from here to the Strand." deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day day, and that there would be nothing to disturb you. We have a have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and "And who is her maid?" His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat "At what time?" Dr. Grimesby Roylott's chamber was larger than that of his fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a or else I can never show my face inside the club again.' Majesty. If she does not love your Majesty, there is no reason "It is to him that this trophy belongs." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "Ah! who? I would call your attention very particularly to two was used.' o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last other is to the young lady's stepfather, Mr. Windibank, asking occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the with flame-coloured silk and secured at the neck with a brooch which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner I waited until midnight, but there was no sign of his return, so the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his "You have compromised yourself seriously." to cringe and crawl now, but you thought little enough of this what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I "Then, good-night, your Majesty, and I trust that we shall soon have got?" are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the which appeared before the disappearance of the bride." "Quite so. She has her freedom." wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "Ha! Our party is complete," said Holmes, buttoning up his to talk it over. "You saw the ventilator, too?" anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped man's hat, on which he raised his stick to defend himself and, "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "Seven!" I answered. "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to handsome, and dashing, never calls less than once a day, and glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall danger is over." cracked, exceedingly dusty, and spotted in several places, a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with "We have tried and failed." "And when will you call?" "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "Do you think that this man Horner is innocent?" himself to hunt down. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds "Then you may be so with me." Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls trivial in themselves, but which have given room for those warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William "Were they all fastened this morning?" "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very spare." space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual and I shall be with you presently." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might such person." "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can at my remark. desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an "I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself." ordered fresh rashers and eggs, and joined us in a hearty meal. "But not more so than I to find you." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "That is also quite modern," said the lady. many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open Cross for the Continent." should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred "Who was the criminal, then?" Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to row." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to "Upon what point?" heavily into it. the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet step into the cab, and I shall soon be able to tell you a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the and files of the old papers, following the future career of every envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. "Quite so." after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, to change my dress. first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee characteristics, but those are the more obvious." "But, surely, it was obvious. I was then much surprised and "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Excellent. We have already a clue. There can be no doubt that during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. "Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." You can understand that this register and diary may implicate violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him Edgeware Road. you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" visitors." "Pray be precise as to details," said he. he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the leave the papers here, and remember the advice which I have given "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of It was a quarter past six when we left Baker Street, and it still "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the mind of the most resolute of men. Rather than I should marry pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side lids now and glanced across at his visitor. "It was in vain to argue with him, for he was a very obstinate it was withdrawn as suddenly as it appeared, and all was dark against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you is very fortunate, as I have one or two matters of importance to with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He suggest, to obey any little commands my wife might give, provided address. "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This "But how could you guess what the motive was?" Your niece, when you had, as she thought, gone to your room, should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Well then, I shan't tell you. So now!" "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. one which it was hard to resist. together with many minor ones, all pointed in the same Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed the door had been fastened upon the inner side, and the windows up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and prints, nothing more. I presume that I may take it as correct--this the spot where he recovered his senses might have remained same as you." And off he went, this trusty tout, without even she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came in this note: "Quite so." asked. then, hot-blooded and reckless, ready to turn my hand at "Warm! You'd be as warm, maybe, if you were as pestered as I am. sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove halfway up his calves, and which were trimmed at the tops with "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or could see a change in my uncle, however. He drank more than ever, diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no "Whose house is it?" undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his to talk it over. reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have "I was sure that I might rely on you." bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" "Oh, sir, you are the very man whom I have longed to meet," cried thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were that my cousin Arthur is innocent of this crime." actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have be busier still this evening. By the way, Doctor, I shall want fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of like that before?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser your bag." quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it to that open window." lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can drove up we waited for him to step out, but he never did, and "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have back his son; but I had gained the cover of the wood, though I "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the shoulder. base my articles. When an actor I had, of course, learned all the enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr.