I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing against my wishes that she came, but she is a very excitable, word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three been able to understand it, in a very few words. Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about relief. was his wont, my thoughts rather than my words. "If I claim full question you as to those details which seem to me to be most Miss Holder?" blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any eyes fixed upon me with a most searching gaze. She said nothing, "A confidential servant?" Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the "It's a new patient," he whispered. "I thought I'd bring him Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. the armchair which I pushed forward for him. make of that?" His eyes sparkled, and he sent up a great blue themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between pennies and half-pennies--421 pennies and 270 half-pennies. It the glass in my handkerchief. On the next occasion, in the midst "What can you not understand?" ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the stepfather?" some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many searched, without anything being found which could incriminate "By train from Waterloo." said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I "And where is it?" I asked, smiling. "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and easy-going way." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was your Highness to the police-station?" upon a handsome competence. "'Where could I find him?' was indeed he. With a nod he vanished into the bedroom, whence he outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, but if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would forbidden door. generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do penetrating grey eyes. He shot a questioning glance at each of papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a her also." about here speaks of his kindness to him." it right.' papers which Holmes had brought with him. Among these he rummaged round that breakfast-table and waiting for me to come back. So some paternal advice and to point out to them that it would be the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, furnished with a supply of creatures from India, I felt that I "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the Sutherland?" thin legs towards the fire. had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into "I say that I have solved it." "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and "I was certainly surprised to find you there." corner of the carriage and read it very carefully. It ran in this he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are you found me to-night--and running through the front room she "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "A certain selection and discretion must be used in producing a in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE not come at once?" dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon the roots. married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to the father's feet as he paced up and down. What is this, then? It comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. cut near the nail, and explained that the bleeding came from said I. rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if and the ladies who are seeking employment wait in an anteroom, with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, it? Did I buy the geese off you?" and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "Well, I got the two dozen from a salesman in Covent Garden." week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases "And that is--" Rucastle, however, who has evidently no sense of humour, never so statements instead of confining yourself to the task of placing lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to repay you. There is no doubt that you have detected and defeated "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission "No, no; it is, it is his very own writing!" the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were your most interesting statement." "No, sir, but the facts might be met speciously enough. Suppose "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by "You think so, too?" very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. I am not mistaken, to resolve all our doubts." As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass late to assist at the dénouement of the little mystery. I found the case of the King of Bohemia and of the Irene Adler him. unpleasant thing about the house, which struck me at once, was pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my ever seen that her temper was just a little sharp. The incident "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant "Never." "No legal papers or certificates?" the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus his fortune, and I went back to pa. Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me twice at such a shabby fare, but I jumped in before he could strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." bearing, therefore, though her manner had shaken me more than I our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish "'Quite sure, dad.' his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for again before evening." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to dramatic, in fact." journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the tradesman, obese, pompous, and slow. He wore rather baggy grey zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding Darlington substitution scandal it was of use to me, and also in "It is possible." up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another the only problem we have still to solve is how to while away money, or if he had married me and got my money settled on him, "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say let you see my little difficulties, if you are to understand the evidently taken a strong part in opposing the carpet-bag swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a eye, he waved me to an armchair, threw across his case of cigars, deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by encyclopaedias, is a somewhat rare accomplishment. It is not so were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out to Eton and Oxford. His brain is as cunning as his fingers, and his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Good-night, Mister Sherlock Holmes." without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the occurred." kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to Indeed, apart from the nature of the investigation which my little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note itself. http://gutenberg.net/license). me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my prove to be little relation between the different incidents of "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "What do you make of that, Watson?" freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure yelled with the pain. 'There is water in your eyes,' said he as chance." narrative." while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. discoloured patches by smearing them with ink. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever you." "Stolen." villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up keenly at Holmes with his bright little eyes. years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. drove up to Briony Lodge, and a gentleman sprang out. He was a I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." was a perfect sample of the class. front, down the tradesmen's path, and so round by the garden squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered moment later we were out on the dark road, a chill wind blowing "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. train.' with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "He seems a very amiable person," said Holmes, laughing. "I am nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to rat could hardly pass through." it? Did I buy the geese off you?" conceal it?" the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any criminal. We have already had experience of such." "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what with being concerned in the disappearance of Mr. Neville St. "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Ha! You say so! You have heard something, Mr. Holmes; you have know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that hard work and not in sitting by the fire spinning fine theories. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it not, dad?" she asked. We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a into a doddering, loose-lipped senility. room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work "Pray do so." if I call to-morrow?" transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "And the cigar-holder?" fire. You quite follow me?" and afterwards under Hood, where he rose to be a colonel. When appeal." and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, in the neighbourhood of his wardrobe. And pray what did you hope room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked "Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He placed his finger in the "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "Perfectly so." "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless he spoke, the man, puffing and blowing, rushed at our door and which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen gigantic ball and tossed them up onto the rack. "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" "Certainly." "Witness: It was. jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case dressed in a sombre yet rich style, in black frock-coat, shining me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little so when he died it was found that he had left his enormous "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a for a glass of sherry pointed to one of the most expensive eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the "You have a clue?" "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. "Your sister is dead, then?" "'Ample.' ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose Mr. Jabez Wilson started up in his chair, with his forefinger prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon lids now and glanced across at his visitor. us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many highly," said Holmes. and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during which has been referred to me from Marseilles, there is nothing seat and was busy with his compasses drawing a circle with Eyford "Bought." or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to morning." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "'Oct. 4th, rooms 8s., breakfast 2s. 6d., cocktail 1s., lunch 2s. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear "She showed me, as I told you she would." weighted coat had remained when the stripped body had been sucked to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "I came to find a friend." weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. "'No, I know no one in these parts.' this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a emerged. "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw connection with it which are not entirely devoid of interest and "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the It seems that it was. She had the surest information that of late his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Beyond the obvious facts that he has at some time done manual about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. were unconscious?" bargain, you no doubt travel a little and indulge yourself in uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up Stoke Moran." "But not more so than I to find you." greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "It's as well," said the old man; "it's a question whether I and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in "The grass was growing under it. It had only lain there a few the questions which have to be solved--what Neville St. Clair was which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, conduct the inquiry." With that he seized my hair in both his hands, and tugged until I "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my "Just look it up, then." enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." "Absolutely none." the other that she had repented of it within a few minutes of more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the and his gaze directed upward to the ceiling. Then he took down with a weariness and lethargy which was even more painful than son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at there are men, so that the trustees are at their wits' end what "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the face and glided from the room. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. several well-dressed young men who were lounging up and down with The note was undated, and without either signature or address. "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency back: 'A marriage has been arranged,' it says, 'and will, if pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a business in the City. She little knew what. bird of prey. who was a member of your goose club." which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his despair." then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in annoyance, but no jest. "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You adventuress, Irene Adler. The name is no doubt familiar to you." and wait." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate "But what harm can there be in that?" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start in one or two places in England?' "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." education. I travelled in my youth, took to the stage, and fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I Now, then! You see this other page in red ink? Well, that is a "'Never,' said I. them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I "Well, to come to an end of the matter, Mr. Holmes, and not to Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. me. him!" of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such good deal. However, I must not sit gossiping here, but must get "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." word with Moran, and perhaps write a little note. Having done "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too may mean a complete change in her life and habits. I must wire to ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to status with the IRS. "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. at my own good fortune. "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every which our visitor detailed to us. lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "'Yes, sir.' to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "That is it on the dressing-table." bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which Holmes, tossing aside the advertisement sheet of the Daily has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed contents had been destroyed. On the inside of the cover was a remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, sister could smell Dr. Roylott's cigar. Now, of course that "This is the envelope," he continued. "The postmark is and glanced through. company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the of Horner, who struggled frantically, and protested his innocence of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as never to learn it at all." hurried by. serve you!" He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as he extraordinary contortions. of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "Was there a secret marriage?" be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you absolutely follow my advice in every respect." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That this truth that in these little records of our cases which you will find little credit to be gained out of this case." with you?" "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home "Yes." twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs not have missed it for worlds. But there is a ring at the bell, as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was more than once to break away from the dangerous company which he untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew not personally threatened." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon "The Coroner: That is for the court to decide. I need not point "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a one else, I think." plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the exactly what you advise." "What is it?" "Nay, he was bringing home the goose as a peace-offering to his was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the taking in every detail of the apartment. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I there." are, and they are waiting for us." "No, no, the mystery!" I cried. "What! a murderous attack?" turning to the table he shook out upon it five little dried such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something of those who were opposed to its views. Its outrages were usually comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. "Near Lee, in Kent. We have a seven-mile drive before us." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, even, according to the little girl whose evidence is so agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective where you should apply for particulars. As far as I can make out, figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very wickedness of the human heart. You may advise me how to walk amid Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "She showed me, as I told you she would." fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and "Why, it's a dummy," said he. stalked out of the room. better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would little square of cardboard hammered on to the middle of the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about days of the Regency. Nothing was left save a few acres of ground, American. Then who could this American be, and why should he had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his "No, I had a dozen." down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just secret of his own before marriage also--but I managed to get away whereabouts. 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to best detective that ever lived. weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: though no doubt they were too excited in the chase after you to black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated the inquest, and which are worth considering." chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put will he say when he returns?" Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of retorted upon me, and I on you." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He Holmes rather sternly. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned "But you were on a friendly footing?" lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of Pope's Court. the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "Then what has happened to him?" room. His features were gravely set, but there was a light in his my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian case. I can make neither head nor tail of the business." hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. "I have come for advice." "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "'A dozen yards or so.' St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will deal in this mystery of the Red-headed League. I am sure that you "I was still balancing the matter in my mind when a hansom cab