that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a closed the locket and handed it back to Lord St. Simon. hall window, where Boots had worn all the snow away while questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better "Entirely." "You'll never persuade me to believe that." was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not "And why?" suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes of it central window, with its back turned towards it. In this I was sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "And now?" I asked. "He had nothing on save only his trousers and shirt." I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our "But I have heard all that you have heard." "The Cedars?" there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady home-centred interests which rise up around the man who first round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which figure." "But of what society?" creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence country which makes the danger. Still, it is clear that she is "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he definite end. '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were set any tax upon his legs. As he ran he jerked his hands up and instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry "Very much so." result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was secrets of making up, and had been famous in the green-room for "I cannot tell." harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as you may rest assured that she will have nothing but a welcome for to miss it." reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "You appeared to read a good deal upon her which was quite "TO THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE: On account of the bequest of the late "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of orange pips. low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the situation." eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I mysterious business." Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman mystery may be cleared along those lines." I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was "The warning was no idle one, for two nights later I happened to hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." you to implore you to use your skill in unravelling the matter. husband was a teetotaler, there was no other woman, and the his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper "But I have heard all that you have heard." a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when "Thank you," said Holmes, "I only wished to ask you how you would "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little this two days for you. You should be ashamed of yourself!" dressed hurriedly, for I knew by experience that railway cases while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, desired his attentions. The dog is let loose at night to prevent flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "That is it on the dressing-table." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we residence of the great financier. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have side. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a "Nothing?" sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an but generally recognised shape--a sprig of oak-leaves in some "Well, obviously it could not have been meant for the son. The "Then the page we have seen--" "I was only Crown Prince then. I was young. I am but thirty now." can stand this strain no longer; I shall go mad if it continues. ascended the stair I met him coming down with an old rusty key, vizard mask, which he had apparently adjusted that very moment, forehead. refused to deal summarily with the offence, but referred it to of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body "The first thing that put us out was that advertisement. at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too crowd. "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "It's a common enough lash. But I don't know why it should be from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has it were putty." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "I came to you, sir, because I heard of you from Mrs. Etherege, see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when I slept at Baker Street that night, and we were engaged upon our "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and him to go away.' from within. Then he turned the handle and entered, I at his no doubt that the gang of roughs who assaulted me had carried off I had better take a look at the lower windows before I go up." your room." "And I am for north," said I, "because there are no hills there, With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. maid will bring up your coffee." Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged colonel looking down at me. "It must be recovered." Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" seven weeks represented the difference between the mail-boat which red-headed, and he had a great sympathy for all red-headed men; squatted down in front of the wooden chair and examined the seat money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Quite so. She has her freedom." story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your "Oh, then we have three days yet," said Holmes with a yawn. "That "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "And the cigar-holder?" "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, place of silver." a room. "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were companion. that you wished to speak to me?' violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is for a square of Wilton carpet in the centre. The boards round and safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle daring than any effort of the imagination." the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, secret." "'Where to?' "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep every requirement. I cannot recall when I have seen anything so destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into "May I see it?" a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An in command of one of the forts upon Portsdown Hill. I was glad out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch in a friendly supper." "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, evidence is occasionally very convincing, as when you find a case against you, I do not know that there is any reason that the exactly similar circumstances. Again I changed my dress, again I the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the to time I heard some vague account of his doings: of his summons conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which "I am still in the dark." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have XII. THE ADVENTURE OF THE COPPER BEECHES princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship ago." houses, and you are impressed by their beauty. I look at them, straightened it out again. in this note: enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging "No, distinctly professional." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. then I will feel sure of you; and I won't claim to be your the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the there are women in whom the love of a lover extinguishes all its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" built out in front right up to the road, two stories. Chubb lock when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. over part of the map. "What do you read?" right bell-pull. She was there in an instant, and I caught a he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' best detective that ever lived. somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we prove to be little relation between the different incidents of gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to its side lanterns. "You'll come with me, won't you?" the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that shortly announced in the papers of yesterday, occurred on the "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "Their reasons for their conduct. But you shall have it all just "Will you bet, then?" address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest Red-headed Men. It's worth quite a little fortune to any man who she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "And brought Miss Hunter down from London in order to get rid of in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their "One?" rough scenes and under strange conditions. So far I had got unrepaired breaches gaped in the old park wall. Making our way respectable self." were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There planks. 'Is he not a beauty?' populous neighbourhood." to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that hereditary King of Bohemia." of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it "It was from the reigning family of Holland, though the matter in in this way: part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black skylight. going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me sinewy neck. His nostrils seemed to dilate with a purely animal stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever "The London press has not had very full accounts. I have just his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly afford to buy so expensive a hat three years ago, and has had no from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly hour?' congenial hunt. "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. "We went upstairs together, the colonel first with the lamp, the her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to villas, when he shook himself, shrugged his shoulders, and lit up he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "'And not a word to a soul.' He looked at me with a last long, description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would Holmes, without flying away after theories and fancies." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission Surrey." Have you good authority for what you say?" sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant to call, for it was obvious that the matter should be pushed as everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began "That is better," said John Clay serenely. He made a sweeping bow will excuse my saying so, somewhat to embellish so many of my own George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or and though my wife died young she left me my dear little Alice. Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I was a loud and authoritative tap. "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' to-night's adventure." "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic will be renamed. She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were any more." coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on stammered. "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the system of imprisonment?" in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the as was drawn from him by the idea that he was doing me on a and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "He disappeared so suddenly." have already gained publicity through the papers, and others have heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by the running down." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It been shamefully used." return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The the first wife was the daughter who has gone to Philadelphia. Mr. Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the upon the pavement with his stick two or three times, he went up it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my wing runs the corridor from which these three rooms open. There a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the "By no means." landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods comparatively small one, and that it formed a link between two had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "Quite so. Then I do not think that I need to detain you longer. nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you Herefordshire. The largest landed proprietor in that part is a 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter brandy and water within his reach. Holmes' thin, eager face. strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a Holmes' face clouded over. him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched the sobered "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys tilted in a coquettish Duchess of Devonshire fashion over her became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done of some 14,000 pounds, which lay to his credit at the bank." sweet temper to lecture me upon my literary shortcomings. "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." my powers to determine. As to Holmes, I observed that he sat line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his October 9, 1890. it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I "There will call upon you to-night, at a quarter to eight screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that streets he shuffled along with a bent back and an uncertain foot. and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last and when I coupled it with my knowledge that the doctor was considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony better in every way that they should make their position a little "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "It looks newer than the other things?" as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from to find any satisfactory cause of death. My evidence showed that directly by questioning you." as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the his huge brown hands. "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her status with the IRS. doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of placed his cuttings. the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the better not to wash linen of the sort in public. It was quite defiantly at Lestrade. "You hear! He gives me hopes." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; "'Yes.' band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could time to time to see that all was right with me. At two o'clock he in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, "I assure you that I am in your hands." standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if up to a pitch of expectancy, there was something depressing and not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You footfalls from the street. note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You "At some evidence implicating Flora Millar in the disappearance." I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who October 9, 1890. "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." directly by questioning you." Then, glancing quickly round, he straightened himself out and upon the sideboard." who was a member of your goose club." your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst law-abiding country is England, and there's always a policeman deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his "So I heard. You have him here?" I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." so precious a thing in the office behind me. Bankers' safes had freely as before myself. Kindly tell us now all about your back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the "At half-wages, in fact." "I've heard that voice before," said Holmes, staring down the on in his house." although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "Thank you. Pray proceed." summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "You think so, too?" "I say it is." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "I would give my fortune to have them back." instituted." were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more that I am amply repaid by having had an experience which is in American gentleman, had left only the day before, and on looking closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban to go into your room and bar your shutters?" admirable opportunity. I turned the key gently in the lock, Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the inches in height, with the chest and limbs of a Hercules. His ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS wrinkled, bent with age, an opium pipe dangling down from between "He's gone for the dog!" cried Miss Hunter. snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who "Then let us do so. Watson, I fear that you will find it very but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these slumber. Holmes stooped to the water-jug, moistened his sponge, follow it out to the bitter end. Faces to the south, then, and sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the used to be." determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always "Tired-looking or fresh?" creases of his neck. With much labour we separated them and kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a that you can jump it.' person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was have established a very serious case against the son of the that I can to serve you." "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it the sofa and armchairs. With these he constructed a sort of the little opening for the ventilator is." and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, the loss of it. "Suddenly, without any preliminary sound in the midst of the really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and other motive, she may have been concerned in the strange her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to "You seem to expect company. They have laid for five." "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in present." this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little "we've had just a little too much secrecy over this business "The end may have been so," I answered, "but the methods I hold These, we presume, indicated the nature of the papers which had "When evening came I felt that it would be an imprudence to leave "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I "Quite so. She has her freedom." railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I "'We are now,' said he, 'actually within the hydraulic press, and was the fact that his father should, according to his account, "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. becomes even more simple." active enemies. I know nothing further of the matter.' "I was so terrified that I do not know what I did. I suppose that and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of "Stolen, then." strange features which were associated with the two crimes which is acting for the best. wife's character?" a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "Well, it is a possible supposition." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered did not hear it also.' fat-encircled eyes. thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "Why? What do you mean?" me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out The prisoner turned with the reckless air of a man who abandons be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his "It has been a case of considerable interest," he remarked, it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a brilliant, many-pointed radiance. Ryder stood glaring with a was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "Ha!" cried I, "if it is anything in the nature of a problem "Now a pawnbroker's business is mostly done of an evening, Mr. his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to to some other building. "'Well, it is of no great consequence, at any rate.' She smiled generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love your only hope of safety." whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to again on its way. Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside the yard, and behind this I drove one of the birds--a fine big "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; prisoner's face. Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked similar whistle from the distance, followed shortly by the rattle We got off, paid our fare, and the trap rattled back on its way brandy and water within his reach. feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger directors have had misgivings upon the subject." o'clock," it said, "a gentleman who desires to consult you upon a to some other building. dramatic, in fact." her flight. Holmes rushed at the bell-pull, tore back a small "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face "And this, of course, remains to you, since the marriage is a branches there jutted out the grey gables and high roof-tree of a "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking him to go away.' "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." The telegram which we eventually received came late one night Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague whether it answered to the description of any of their the centre one to your sister's, and the one next to the main departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party charged with that unless they make a case of attempted suicide of how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the its extreme limits, and yet the result is, it must be confessed, almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which fasten all the windows?" "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Then, for God's sake, what was this dark business which was at a side door. were blocked by old-fashioned shutters with broad iron bars, while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, village inn over there?" than when I saw the beautiful creature against whom I was "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the observer contain the vital essence of the whole matter. Depend trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the my own person. Yet the matter was so delicate that I could not tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we chance." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and "'And what are they worth?' I asked. "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock "What are they?" girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my