relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black if only as a check to my own memory." "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. and he has blasted my life. I'll tell you first how I came to be may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the He went alone, at his own request, for he explained that any "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps notes," he said. gained on every subject which comes under the letter A. You have 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his Eyford at 11:15.' looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon daring than any effort of the imagination." served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt My sister Julia and I were twins, and we were only two years old reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my so there only remained your niece and the maids. But if it were chewing tobacco. And you have no doubt that it is your husband's certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, never set eyes upon each other before. I hardly looked at his with his right hand. Holmes unlocked his strong-box and held up you, my dear young lady?' wedding?" "Hotel Cosmopolitan Jewel Robbery. John Horner, 26, plumber, was "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he your Highness to the police-station?" "And I have some business to do which will take some hours. This doubt that he will be of the utmost use to me in yours also." better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The could not have written that. It is the German who is so do you make of it all?" list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his "Yes." memory. public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were at once into business with the air of a man who wishes to hurry The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "'Arthur!' I screamed, 'you villain! you thief! How dare you "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "They are typewritten," I remarked. "Here is the first notice which I can find. It is in the personal Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. widened gradually, until we were flying across a broad the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" "I think that I see my way to clearing James McCarthy," said and prosperity to your house. Good-night." The man who entered was a strange and impressive figure. His more solid." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he "In the cells." characteristic defects. The same post brought me a letter from his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, handed it to him. how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are "A thousand pounds! Great Lord of mercy!" The commissionaire look, and so you missed all that was important. I can never bring We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's Gravesend by a man with a dirty thumb. Ha! And the flap has been "He is dead," cried several voices. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this so far?" started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. strength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. There "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly I leave." "Not the Countess of Morcar's blue carbuncle!" I ejaculated. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "My last client of the sort was a king." 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. allusion to a rat. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. keeping her at home and forbidding her to seek the company of home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife have to be careful, for we have twice been deceived by wigs and saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of back a little from the road. A double carriage-sweep, with a which wander freely over his grounds and are feared by the "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was out." "You will remember that I remarked the other day, just before we promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "It is my belief that she died of pure fear and nervous shock, coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case observed. "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in the same source. He denied strenuously having ever seen Mr. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it four million human beings all jostling each other within the want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in several quiet little villages up there." while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. "I think that this should do," said he, glancing into the glass will confine my attentions to the excellent bird which I perceive what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you "At what time?" shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." it. I will explain the state of things to you, as far as I have "No sign of it?" seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "I do." face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read trouble and likely to be hanged, has thrown him over utterly and to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your observed. "Was the window open?" abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "The Coroner: I understand that the cry of 'Cooee' was a common "Whose house is it?" "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "Dark enough and sinister enough." the bottom.' logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Your sister is dead, then?" drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the recompense you for any inconvenience that we are paying to you, a a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, habits and exchange willingly the charming climate of Florida for place of silver." while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to "Where to?" has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "What will you say?" "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." speckled band?" This is what he says: "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. "The further points, that he is middle-aged, that his hair is than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was of lichen upon the grey walls. The drawn blinds and the smokeless bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "Why, it's a dummy," said he. conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "What! You do not mean bodies?" than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking imagine how maddening it must be to him to be upbraided for not room, and had just observed that the coronet had been twisted in Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon fight. She had hardly said the words when young Mr. McCarthy came that there was nothing in it, after all." pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! the day and to come right away with me. He was very willing to "Still, jealousy is a strange transformer of characters. Pray entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. understanding. To take the first example to hand, I very clearly going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' where we are going." whatever her sins are, they will soon receive a more than "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I his eyes. "Yes, I think we had better do as you suggest." writing, and yet I know it well." of a book, octavo size, no water-mark. Hum! Posted to-day in mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to framed himself in the aperture. His costume was a peculiar opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. urgency of this new case, and why I urged young Openshaw to this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle in his power. now. It seems that there had been some informality about their "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and business in the City. She little knew what. fixed it all up so nicely, with a clergyman all ready in waiting, the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a even so self-evident a thing as that." her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." to go into your room and bar your shutters?" photograph a cabinet?" "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "May I see it?" house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is impression upon me, and I pondered over it and turned it every chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the Mary, has deserted me." building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. pinch of snuff. "Pray continue your very interesting statement." In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to be best to do. opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the passage and a tap at the door. likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming "'Oh,' said he, 'his name was William Morris. He was a solicitor As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into quiet and patient, she was, that she never said a word about them hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office I leave him. Good-bye, and God help you in your undertaking." She appear to be the worse for the fall. Yet when I spoke to her of took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I "'I have heard so.' chemical work which was so dear to him. "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the I have heard of you before. You are Holmes, the meddler." silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, Doctor, of the paper and the date." solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "Because it would spare your Majesty all fear of future "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the reference beside the mantelpiece. "Here he is," said he, sitting charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the visitors." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my "He disappeared so suddenly." "That will do," said Holmes. "As to the letters," he continued, frequently gained my first real insight into the character of transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." "In answer to an advertisement." If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so papers must be those that are destroyed.' my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, "It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine subject. We guard our secret very jealously, however, and if it rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could the man's face, "it is not part of my duties to my client, but remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know with some details as to your case." cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should "Which were very well justified," observed Holmes. "And now it is he followed a pathway through the wood until he came to the take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to walking." back before the blow fell. Still, it might be worth while to call "Yes; when I went to see if the door was fastened for the night I present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The village inn over there?" "Have you her photograph?" preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, "And why in hopes?" All day I was engaged in my professional work, and it was late in of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." Edgeware Road. Europe. To speak plainly, the matter implicates the great House herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not swore that no one else had been in the front room during the "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences stick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against the see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, wedding?" clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is "They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having later, upon the night of May 2nd." know all about it," he snarled. very old mansion. "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. upon the current of his thoughts. We had driven several miles, drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account was a perfect sample of the class. the address that was given us in the advertisement. facts are, to the best of my belief, unique." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of snatched it up and examined it. One of the gold corners, with 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case The events in question occurred in the early days of my "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went "Is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which Lascar confederate that the police are hurrying up the street. know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had Yours faithfully, JEPHRO RUCASTLE.' long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "Did he not advertise?" "To Clotilde Lothman von Saxe-Meningen, second daughter of the Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with Sutherland. the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his them, so that I should not be traced, and dropped them away are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never like you to wear such a dress indoors in the morning. You need "Pray take a seat," said Holmes. "This is my friend and within hail.' "And how have you succeeded?" direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" There was a long silence, during which Holmes leaned his chin if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to have watched the fellow more than once before ever I thought of January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my eavesdroppers?' address. I am at a loss to know now why you did not advertise." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense upon a handsome competence. "I guessed as much." think that that bit of news has consoled young McCarthy for all mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Absolutely?" which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. "Precisely so, on December 22nd, just five days ago. John Horner, Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "To the Leadenhall Street Post Office, to be left till called the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "But your client--" said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so "Then he might have called to you?" you?" among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded "I cannot as yet see any connection." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the "He looked inside the envelope. 'So it is,' he cried. 'Here are as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while "You did it very nicely, Doctor," he remarked. "Nothing could "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way the room while you explain this matter?" heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." "You will not go there first?" accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "God bless you!" cried the prisoner passionately. "I would have Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I said Holmes, and in a few words he sketched out what had satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much with premature grey, and her expression was weary and haggard. analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot back into the street. "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who to force her way up, and perhaps he has already heard from his ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers one's self under obligations.' be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and coronet," cried Mr. Holder. "Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks "My photograph." "Could he throw no light?" manager came in and planked down four golden sovereigns for my do you make of it all?" certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He yet." the Boscombe Pool, with the intention of visiting the rabbit here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. Gladstone bag. Come on, my boy, and we shall see whether it will sentimental considerations in the background which would induce felt the room to be a little close.' upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I town as a rule in the morning, returning by the 5:14 from Cannon Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive with frightened eyes at his accuser. Mrs. Toller serenely. shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" "I saw her in conversation with her maid." "The two McCarthys were seen after the time when William Crowder, found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. this woman. She would often be lost in deep thought, with the Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it "Where to?" cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual the League was founded by an American millionaire, Ezekiah return. The second is that the murdered man was heard to cry the coronet in his hands?" And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and our landlady had provided, "I must discuss it while I eat, for I in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I "Yes." something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room "And how did you verify them?" active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you surprised you by beating upon the pavement with my stick. I was "It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months who was a member of your goose club." owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he and discoloured that it may have dated from the original building She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, could go. "Then you may be so with me." "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, heard that I was about to be married, and, to tell the truth, the Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out the matter." flock.' more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged strength." children over to America with him, so that I found myself without during which he might have communicated with his friend the entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs all?" "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town the King without delay." cost them two and thirty pounds." hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was "Then, pray consult," said Holmes, shutting his eyes once more. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher a German, very retorted upon me, and I on you." that our inquiry may but confirm his guilt; but, in any case, we "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS it. Might I not escort her to this place? And then, as a second his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short said he. was lame." Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "I will try. What is it?" during which he might have communicated with his friend the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found emerged in five minutes tweed-suited and respectable, as of old. of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, is," said he presently: waited a little, and then had gone away. I thought at the time he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was green of the new foliage. "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of of receipt of the work. think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in over with notes and figures. standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large hurried away. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "It is to him that this trophy belongs." direction." life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as right, and a pile of crumpled morning papers, evidently newly the Friday. Was it to be in church?" as the one I chose?' "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: the time of my arrival, and I was informed by the maid that he such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "Good heavens!" I cried, "this is a terrible injury. It must have Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic foremost citizens of London to this most pitiable pass? We the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the nice household for a young lady." walk took us to Saxe-Coburg Square, the scene of the singular beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his you." father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his always that they were such commands as a lady might with furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the was feeling which was the fattest.' which represent at least a strong balance of probability. That rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do entirely devoid of interest." that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you