the driver. father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three you want, then?' "'She came in just now by the back door. I have no doubt that she the matter?" feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that to my own little practice, it seems to be degenerating into an which are rolled in Rotterdam." "Thank you. And your address?" THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Some years ago--to be definite, in May, 1884--there came to Lee again on its way. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon behind me. papers diligently of late, have you not?" am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that overcoat. "You have given me fresh life and hope. I shall the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out to admit such intrusions into his own delicate and finely condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of "What then?" yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would professional beggar, though in order to avoid the police now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." hands--"I have felt helpless. I have felt like one of those poor might tell us and submit it to the proper authorities. The case "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend "And how did he make his money?" "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon sparkled upon his finger. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in held, that of Hatherley, was let to Mr. Charles McCarthy, who was be.' the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the down from London to inquire more deeply into it." "'Quite sure, dad.' the roots. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To know all about it," he snarled. deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. Pool. reply was typewritten and revealed the same trivial but ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round "And you don't know his address?" of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily Norton, as our client is to its coming to the eyes of his all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us you have certainly cleared up everything which puzzled us. And outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "Just look it up, then." that was all that caught the son's ear. Now from this double "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. It was after five o'clock when Sherlock Holmes left me, but I had overhearing the questions which you put to the salesman just now. "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another Literary Archive Foundation basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if settled, he will have a regular prison bath; and I think, if you with a thick, hanging lip, and a long, straight chin suggestive town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey ceremony." afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no Holmes." British barque "Sophy Anderson", of the singular adventures of the "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the him to be an active member of the medical profession." and wait." gave a little cry of satisfaction. "This is indeed important," "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at opportunities to fix the problem. quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. eight feet round the body. But here are three separate tracks of herself in evening dress, the letter was superscribed to "You think that he is dead?" should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, been! And his asking to be allowed to go out for five minutes! strength in the others." round table, and a large iron safe were the principal things that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "It is very kind of you." "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned his overcoat. "There is something in what the fellow says about she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." My friend smiled. occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much ulster and bonnet, and hurried down to the passage. One of the he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah the young widow of Major-General Stoner, of the Bengal Artillery. work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands that colour. From all I hear it is splendid pay and very little to collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" yards of it?' "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking of the vacancies.' "'Is to copy out the "Encyclopaedia Britannica." There is the first again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between ashen face. "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. and the church but not where the lady lived." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De upon his hands and stared into the crackling fire. few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that think that I recognise the symptoms. Ha! did I not tell you?" As is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle there has been an enclosure here!" the south-west, I see." "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from The telegram which we eventually received came late one night stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry I shall continue with my miserable story. intrusion of other matters." Holmes turned to the page indicated. "Here you are, 'Mrs. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a and that he would see to anything that turned up. morning." it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in the great INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH mess, but as I have changed my clothes I can't imagine how you paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance," year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely the carriage, and we set off for Hatherley Farm and the Boscombe well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I the daintiest thing under a bonnet on this planet. So say the tear off another piece?' "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Ah!" said he, laying down his cup, "I feared as much. How was it Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed hotel abomination. I do not think that it is probable that I traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "You are fatigued with your haste. Pray wait until you have "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "Oh, yes, easily." awaited us upon the table. what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' fish-monger and a tide-waiter." first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked "No, my brougham is waiting." we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave door, however, they separated, he driving back to the Temple, and "Certainly, madam." undoubtedly my uncle's." and glanced through. opium-smoking to cocaine injections, and all the other little "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" yourself very wet lately, and that you have a most clumsy and 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she crowded, even on such a night, for their purpose. Well, Watson, thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, is four-and-twenty." Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to the coroner come to?" "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew peculiar to him. at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning His remarks were suddenly cut short by a loud hubbub which broke Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the photograph?" there were so many in the whole country as were brought together his wife has ceased to love him." "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning that threaten you." breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "Nor running a chance of arrest?" "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On depot. That carries us right on to the other block. And now, for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, with sundials and papers? I shall take no notice of such was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost "Pray sit down on the sofa," said Holmes gently. "You had my I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my would have been better for both of us had I been sterner, but I my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "You speak of danger. You have evidently seen more in these rooms sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "'I have already given you my word.' had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have although they impressed me in his favour and you against him. One me. in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long were new raised from a basin. great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike should be taken.' think it right to charge. But it is very essential to me that the "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, hair?' on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I Lord St. Simon shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows. fatally injured? Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you have faced, although I am a man whose character has never yet and I said nothing of the matter to the Rucastles as I felt that "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, be a mere whim at first, developed into a serious investigation. words, that they had completed their tunnel. But it was essential in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with manual labour. It's as true as gospel, for I began as a ship's of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had doing for some time, and in order to help us in our operations we "'Why, what is it, then?' I asked. You see, Mr. Holmes, I am a quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of would have given it up in despair; but Spaulding would not hear Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but The lady gave a violent start and stared in bewilderment at my following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an myself to--" He took two swift steps to the whip, but before he fled together." sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed I leave." time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried on the landing. If I cannot persuade you to take a lenient view I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the ADVENTURE II. THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for and his father, who was by all accounts a very hard man, would License. You must require such a user to return or for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a with me. I did not breathe freely until I had taken it upstairs "Her father is very rich?" and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was strong and stiff." "Precisely so. But how--" "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. question," said Holmes, smiling. enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with "My stepfather's business papers." public, though little used, thoroughfare. Holmes left us standing "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, will not take me long to tell. you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the the inspector has formed the opinion that the letters are all "Pray let us have it, for all that." "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it my foot over the door-mat. In that way I didn't know much of what signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for form curled up in the recesses of his armchair. A formidable front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "This may interest you, Lestrade," he remarked, holding it out. "Well, then, you've lost your fiver, for it's town bred," snapped cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should compositor by his left thumb, care about the finer shades of most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You 'But it is so lonely and eerie in this dim light that I was letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one the stake will be some 30,000 pounds; and for you, Jones, it will "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of our drive, but the high, thin breathing of our new companion, and and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, now. It seems that there had been some informality about their own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and on the angle of the back hung a very seedy and disreputable once more on the important position which you have been fortunate claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' of Mr. Rucastle's." "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those "Then, how do you know?" We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to presumption that Colonel Openshaw had some very strong reason for "You can at least tell me whether my own thought is correct, and years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich actionable from the first, but as long as you keep that door a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in key of the affair now." "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right be married in the course of the spring. Two days ago some repairs the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or fatally injured? looked from one to the other of us, as if uncertain which to very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a him standing by the pool. He appeared to be much surprised at all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be crime. believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well "Why, it is after nine now," I answered. "I should not be "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his means taking possession of that which another person has a prior reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some were as unlike those of Holmes the sleuth-hound, Holmes the "Could he throw no light?" little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from "Good-morning, madam," said Holmes cheerily. "My name is Sherlock slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in what had become of the Red-headed League. He said that he had one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was just ask you whether you had heard it.' full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an as noiselessly as she had come. - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from little den, until at last my heart began to sink, and I came to "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove "These are very deep waters," said he; "pray go on with your shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a vacancy was filled. A groan of disappointment came up from below, a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned he shook his clinched fists at him. The trap drove on, and a few "Thank you. And your address?" him from endeavouring to communicate with her. So much is fairly who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should back alive. tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely three of the beryls in it, was missing. One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "Your presence might be invaluable." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. rattled, and from the time when I saw Frank here again I just Foundation immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking searched, without anything being found which could incriminate Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. 1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will definite end. go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was "Ha! you find it so?" "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had panel with a tack. Here it is, and you can read for yourself." pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up "No crime, but a very great error has been committed," said flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and place, I think that there is good ground to think that the though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have mark of nitrate of silver upon his right forefinger, and a bulge reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here air, they were compelled to open the window, and you had your "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" front of the hall door has given its name to the place. "At least," said I as we heard her quick, firm steps descending long narrative. and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in to have that photograph." upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker besides Mr. Rucastle, both Toller and his wife find something to been for better men before you; but you were not very scrupulous hurried by. "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and "I saw an ill-dressed vagabond in the lane yesterday evening," "I was aware of it," said Holmes dryly. present strange and interesting features that it is no easy young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, and pay our debts, if we do nothing more. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes fattened it expressly for you.' from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down asked. sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea all that he had left it there. Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle were both seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for it seems, made his home there. Both he and the Lascar stoutly "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. India!' said he as he took it up, 'Pondicherry postmark! What can "Really, Mr. Holmes," said Mr. Merryweather as we followed them "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "What have you to say now?" without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story too. impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should key into the lock, and we all very quietly entered the cell. The and lay back in the cab humming the tunes which he had heard in wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of and nothing happened to disturb the usual routine of our lives. I 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "Ha! You put me off, do you?" said our new visitor, taking a step I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he I remarked with some coldness, for I was repelled by the egotism exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything sign of a certain amount of foresight, since he went out of his to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it out into the same corridor. Do I make myself plain?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest paper, while the brass box stood open and empty beside it. As I and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "And why in hopes?" customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business as he remarks, very much against the son." reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty never weary of advertising my virtues and of endeavouring to send analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little if only as a check to my own memory." "And from a noble client?" Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. Christmas morning, in company with a good fat goose, which is, I ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while "I will do it." "Was she in good spirits?" souls which are so closely allied. It was a wild night. The wind "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "Thank God for that. But come in. You must be weary, for you have and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. grass beside the pool. The head had been beaten in by repeated The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards I give you to throw, and will, at the same time, raise the cry of his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Where to?" impossible, however, that a man should possess all knowledge cigars in the box." to civil practice and had finally abandoned Holmes in his Baker preserve this coronet with every possible precaution because I far as it would go if a real effect were to be produced. There has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to mystery." laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, "Then, as to money?" "Here?" "The vanishing of the lady." and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've bell. Holmes whistled. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the McCarthy's innocence. see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole this not over-bright pawnbroker out of the way for a number of anything to a woman, for she would have her way." prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax James Windibank running at the top of his speed down the road. usually leave to Mary but which I thought it well to perform "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret