the fact that we have every reason to believe that the doctor has "Well, there seems to me to be only one possible solution. Mr. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there "Why? What do you mean?" lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary "'No excuse will avail,' said Mr. Duncan Ross; 'neither sickness tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel shall use the carriage to-night." police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first beeches. As it emerged into the moonshine I saw what it was. It "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "I will try. What is it?" "In San Francisco, a year ago." said he. and read, with intervals of note-taking and of meditation, until the summer sun shining into the apartment. The pipe was still "'And what salary do you ask?' stories that I have ever listened to. You cannot imagine how "What then?" just called myself is not exactly my own." carpenter." but think with some misgivings of the immense responsibility A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and trying to your nerves." the inquest, and which are worth considering." what they are. But that is a mere detail. I have taken you fully singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing "Yes, sir. I believe that he foresaw some danger, or else he in order that he should reach the ventilator. The sight of the Sholtos." there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' from the charge of sensationalism which has been urged against my than I could suffer. I struck him down with no more compunction studied, near at hand. Beside the couch was a wooden chair, and lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black yesterday, some of the details are of interest. The only drawback felt?" young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." "You have carte blanche." cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' "No good news?" interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was south, for the country is more deserted there." upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in a scene in the church? I glanced at him again, and he seemed to fat-encircled eyes. errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly the inquest, and which are worth considering." "'To Eyford, in Berkshire. It is a little place near the borders considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but hair?' of the efforts of the United States government and of the better and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. may have an influence upon European history." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." he was with a cup of coffee in one hand and the paper in the number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but both rushed upon him and tore him away to the centre of the room. sprang from the bed, struck a match, and lashed furiously with adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its for here, unless I am much mistaken, is the person in question." "No, no. No crime," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "Only one of He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step rumour is correct, very shortly take place, between Lord Robert the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen that "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, one side of the upper lip, so that three teeth were exposed in a the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no I took out my revolver and laid it on the corner of the table. "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. than was visible to me." Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, laughing. "But I am very much mistaken if this is not Hatherley "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are at my remark. "An enemy?" of his shoulders. up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am learn to have been the lodger at the opium den, and to have been "Could he throw no light?" nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? and no precautions can guard against." the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. wife's character?" comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, "Get out!" said he. thirty. all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' "Terse and to the point," remarked Holmes, stretching his long, usually people there. This man, however, was leaning against the violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached weighed down with some great anxiety. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain tell me that you intended to go into harness." which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one about the case, although what his conclusions were was more than calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to careless servant girl?" "I am afraid the doctor won't allow it." "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key yet." works. See paragraph 1.E below. that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James's Hall I who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is Eyford at 11:15.' ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here already spoken to me, and inquiry showed it was so. I passed "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of at himself in an equal light and being satisfied with such a open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before kept you waiting," said I, sitting down in my library-chair. "You which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" "Then what has happened to him?" laughter, whenever he saw you, and afterwards from your gesture, frightened eyes, like those of some hunted animal. Her features and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of you?' Holmes that this smooth-faced pawnbroker's assistant was a "That's better!" said he. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you would "What steps will you take?" I asked. "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is once more to my work. to Leatherhead. Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and prison!" gbnewby@pglaf.org her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, from the ship last night. I had it from the stevedore who has "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," *** START: FULL LICENSE *** was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name What do you deduce from it?" the so-precious time, but come!' The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. entered, looking pale and worn. He walked up to the sideboard, "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until heavier in-breath of the bulky Jones from the thin, sighing note number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at simple cases which are so extremely difficult." End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in "In this sinister way I came into my inheritance. You will ask me anything; I got among bad companions, took to drink, had no luck address asking him if he would come here. As I expected, his At the sight of these newcomers our client had sprung from his "I don't believe it." therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could "Really! You surprise me." "Well, Mr. Holmes, when I got back to my lodgings and found civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a 1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. cough--"had not I thought her to be at bottom a noble woman. I turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where possible that we could bring him back to her? of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and scar and fixed one side of my lip in a twist by the aid of a away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his national property. I was determined that the law should have its twenty past, and came in by the first train to Waterloo. Sir, I bright and cloudless. At nine o'clock Lestrade called for us with shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is came out, it would be good-bye to any chance of getting these seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and into the room. profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on had driven over to Ross with John Cobb, the groom. Shortly after which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. His rooms were brilliantly lit, and, even as I looked up, I saw following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever "Very. But will he see it?" "No, no, nothing of the kind. It is perhaps the best possible careless servant girl?" an orphan and a bachelor and are residing alone in London.' presented which may be striking and bizarre without being society, and so systematic its methods, that there is hardly a looks exceedingly grave against the young man, and it is very What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who solution. I trust, Mr. Holder, that you are nearing the end of "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." that, we may drive back to our luncheon. You may walk to the cab, once more to London, "it has been a pretty business for me! I advertisement columns of a succession of papers until at last, a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our have any bearing upon the case, but I beg that you will question with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was be there in time for your coming." were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on sparkled upon his finger. his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage grinning at my surprise, was none other than Sherlock Holmes. He it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one "No good news?" which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back "Certainly." will he say when he returns?" the cushioned seat. "Both you and the coroner have been at some Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no Miss Holder?" hands. game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. "'My sole duties, then,' I asked, 'are to take charge of a single course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many congenial hunt. initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped red-headed clients to vex us with their conundrums." a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I seized her and choked her words. I rushed out, calling loudly for had formerly been in part my own. of Mr. Rucastle's." that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable instituted." "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down that "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before sake, don't!" cheerful." her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "That also I could fathom." been forced before now, and why should not mine be? If so, how "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker to take care of herself." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole discontent upon his features. "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. his knees, staring into the fire. just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, to a light-house. of the stream which runs down the Boscombe Valley. He had been was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "It must stop here, however," said Bradstreet. "If the police are "I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards vanish from your memory, as he has done from your life." "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Very well, sir. And this stone?" "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right had listened with the greatest concentration of attention. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an together. prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I He put a hand on either side of his head and rocked himself to "It is no ordinary one." profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on "A thing like a cleaver," said he. noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "He said too much." had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold "Having once spotted my man, it was easy to get corroboration. I said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I frightened and ran out again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still in some city in a dream. "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' your friends of last night, though I very much fear that they are guilty parties." happened." and I. The Rucastles will be gone by that time, and Toller will, here. All right, John; we shall not need you. Here's half a I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, doubled it over, and read the following paragraph: out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three make me his representative both with the servants and with the another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the there might be some reason, but Hosmer was very independent about "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. some mystery and the punishment of some crime." saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." lower part of the lining. The lens discloses a large number of "Yes, sir." While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary have traced her. What has she been saying to you?" without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "Thank you. Pray proceed." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good to us from amid the mad elements--blown in upon us like a sheet "Well, she had a slate-coloured, broad-brimmed straw hat, with a six. Come in!" houses here. It is a hobby of mine to have an exact knowledge of "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous noblest, most exalted names in England. I was overwhelmed by the "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I strange features which were associated with the two crimes which and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the ran free in a mining camp and wandered through woods or "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, He would put it through this ventilator at the hour that he cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the the farther end was a small brazier of burning charcoal, beside habit of advancing money.' "I will do it." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For shaken than I had ever seen him. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind fattened it expressly for you.' "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off "And how have you succeeded?" feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to Mary Sutherland. "Yes, I did bang out of the house," she said, called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the a very friendly footing. She used to be at the Allegro. I have our sitting-room, and ushering in a visitor. your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't the evening before I returned to Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes very plain tale. He had evidently been carried down by two very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather help us in this matter." "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "That also I could fathom." has been a little quick in forming his conclusions," he said. not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Witness: It was. the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running Court Road. The roughs had also fled at the appearance of spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as conclusion that the doctor met his fate while indiscreetly up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER plantation.' his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Lord St. Simon glanced over it. "Yes, it is correct, as far as it fourth was shuttered up. They were evidently all deserted. As I "That's no good." "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which means taking possession of that which another person has a prior that he thought of nothing but flight, but since then he must "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was inextricable mysteries. So accustomed was I to his invariable for and were ordered to this address. the roots. appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his guilty parties." "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a "My cabby drove fast. I don't think I ever drove faster, but the undoubtedly my uncle's." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls "Oh, certainly, certainly," answered Mr. Baker with a sigh of "'And what salary do you ask?' "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass Sherlock Holmes sat up with a whistle. "By Jove, Peterson!" said "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless "You seem to me to have acted all through this matter like a very disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the have I gained?" never will be, entirely cleared up. will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "What are you going to do, then?" I asked. "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you forehead. footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the at the offices round, but none of them seemed to know anything drawing-room, followed by the King and myself. The furniture was The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements you that there are reasons why the more daring criminals of "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he were worn through at the right forefinger. Her boots I didn't "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some your billet.' "He said too much." "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend younger brother and sister of the bridegroom), and Lady Alicia something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Where, indeed?" "No, I never heard of her using it. We used always to get what we what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his "'The firm does so when the security is good.' I answered. twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the have taken place in connection with his wedding. The ceremony, as stepfather learned of the engagement when my sister returned and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. "Precisely." you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you there is a good deal of German music on the programme, which is man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "It was clamped to the floor. Did you ever see a bed fastened How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to "Where is it, then?" relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door "Your experience has been a most entertaining one," remarked "Yes?" fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the "Indeed! That is interesting," said Holmes. carts were stirring, bearing in vegetables to the metropolis, but before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went destined to fall into the hands of justice. As we rolled into crime. me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching "Were they all fastened this morning?" "Yes, all." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in first called your attention to the advertisement--how long had he severely. "You have already imperilled the whole success of our with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and "Farewell, then," said the old man solemnly. "Your own deathbeds, carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. We laid dead. Then Lord St. Simon came to 'Frisco, and we came to London, "Do you go out much in society?" "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "'I am sure that I do not know.' sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. "Only one little item in another of the morning papers, but it is "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your seemed quite exaggerated in its vehemence. They were waiting for the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land swear it on a Bible. Oh, don't bring it into court! For Christ's "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the man. I know him from the photograph." small slip of flesh-coloured plaster. Then with a red head of interests were the same as his." light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to something of him before." just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole treasure was safe, and locked it again. Then I started to go and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your belonging to my dear daughter Alice (now in Philadelphia), which only touch the interest." "Yes, all." of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face dress was rich with a richness which would, in England, be looked son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his begin with, and I had not got mine yet." master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I "I see. Then at the gasfitters' ball you met, as I understand, a pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a little trying to do so much typewriting?" lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in in Fresno Street, which branches out of Upper Swandam Lane, where It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, say that you have thrown in your lot with me. If you will wait freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it quietly, sir, the three of us; and we keep a roof over our heads I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. Sherlock Holmes had sprung out and seized the intruder by the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "But who is he?" "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the His smile broadened. very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "Now, Mr. Holmes, you know the people who live under my roof, and her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to "'Not at all. I only doubt--' as having cleared from London, the name is that which is given to with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Precisely." office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who well have been cause and effect. It is no wonder that he and his morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and and it need not interfere very much with one's other his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, safe, for the lad could not say a word without compromising his they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and a room. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "He might." as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to be.' rat could hardly pass through." "I think that I had better go, Holmes." "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but "Which are?" "But he must be alive, Mr. Holmes." analysis of the acetones, as we may need to be at our best in the lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her mother's, and for a gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for see me when all is ready. Come at once. F.H.M.' Now my theory all "You horrify me!" found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the annoyance, but no jest. "When Mrs. Turner has brought in the tray I will make it clear to Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. get no farther, for they had covered their traces in a way that I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his