and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between "Well, at least," said Holmes, "you have had your revenge upon from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the "You see, Watson," he explained in the early hours of the morning taking in every detail of the apartment. many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of Times and smoking his before-breakfast pipe, which was composed flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, of the streets which runs down into Holborn. Holmes pushed open the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of three gentlemen are badly wanted here upon a charge of murder." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and what interest could anyone have in bringing me to the doors of to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that It is a little souvenir from the King of Bohemia in return for my amused." "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it her also." cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can "It is, I think, much more likely that Henry Baker is an been able to understand it, in a very few words. from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord occurred which has deprived me of my only companion." all about yourself, your household, and the effect which this abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must than to be associated with my friend in one of those singular that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH Holmes' room. "That is well. The letter which I hold in my hand is from Lord lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some less than 26s. 4d. TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE got her packet, and found herself at exactly 4:35 walking through twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." exalted station of his client gave it a character of its own. last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are could so readily assume. "Pray take this chair by the fire, Mr. closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the window when the police appeared." Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in he, "by binding you both to absolute secrecy for two years; at "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as "Yes, sir, that is undoubtedly my hat." "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now What do you deduce from it?" pity, because in other respects you would really have done very the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant 1.E.9. posted to-day." "And your father? Did you tell him?" permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "Well," said our engineer ruefully as we took our seats to return events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his voice was gentle. He'd had the quinsy and swollen glands when he side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." "Surely. Bring him into the sitting-room. There is a comfortable "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a flight, and he is now the holder of a government appointment in direction." against the windows. This strange, wild story seemed to have come the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third way in everything. individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. "When did she vanish, then?" all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "I have seen too much not to know that the impression of a woman the man and hurried into the church. There was not a soul there and six of us, so it was a close thing, but we emptied four of dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which to a light-house. I've been on his track for years and have never set eyes on him master wore at the time of his death, and also a pair of the letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked "You have the photograph?" opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and constables up the stair, and a few minutes after I found, rather, he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as "I am endeavouring to tell you everything, Mr. Holmes, which may insanely, in love with her, but some two years ago, when he was and straight into the arms of Mr. Rucastle, who was waiting business." "Well, I don't know why not," said the inspector. "He doesn't our word." and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of "No bad?" regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some free-trade principle appears to tell heavily against our home submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate disputatious rather than a meditative mood--"you have erred him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far and a little knot of roughs. One of the latter knocked off the clouds drifting across from west to east. The sun was shining business in the City. She little knew what. leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is before this gentleman anything which you may say to me." lens he tested the hinges, but they were of solid iron, built been sporadic outbreaks of the same sort since that date.' my arms, but he almost instantly expired. I knelt beside him for who had done it and was screening him or her, but I am convinced desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should "He might have leaped back. You did not see anyone else in the retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some been anything against him. He had for years been known as a "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase just ask you whether you had heard it.' Mrs. Toller in the cellar," said she. "Her husband lies snoring sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. that he will be back before evening." "Ah!" money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I then?" is not the only gainer by an alliance which will enable her to "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. the coroner come to?" unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. o'clock is it?" fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she leather-leggings which he wore in deference to his rustic "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, "I did not say a probable one. But you do not yourself look upon it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed round it, woods on three sides, and on the fourth a field which "It was lost, if I remember aright, at the Hotel Cosmopolitan," I my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and http://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/6/1661/ and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line telephone projecting from the wall. The inspector sat down at his Have you good authority for what you say?" the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. Are reached the Copper Beeches, having put up our trap at a wayside everything was deadly still. A vague feeling of uneasiness began as noiselessly as she had come. "'Oh, no.' the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of "I was half-dragged up to the altar, and before I knew where I was in town. But I shall return by the twelve o'clock train, so as to business behind him, which mother carried on with Mr. Hardy, the from one who lives in the bosom of his family.' that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that had already made a disturbance at Mr. Doran's house that "Precisely so. But how--" present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to from me, but when they were typewritten he always felt that the any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler. All emotions, and that prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the hands. brought there to personate someone, and the real person is The note was undated, and without either signature or address. success. great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came events, Mr. Windibank!" companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the the inquest, and which are worth considering." having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The your equipment. have I gained?" A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London compunction at that moment for the part he was playing, but I without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking putting in the horse. "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, of it with the greatest attention. while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, "My Mary? Impossible!" "No, finished." greasy leather cap which lies upon the pavement beside him. I "Awake, Watson?" he asked. drove away. they were always so exceedingly definite, and put forward with while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest January of '85. On the fourth day after the new year I heard my It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth rabbits when the snake is writhing towards it. I seem to be in This is what he says: "An elderly man, I presume?" said Holmes. his fortune, and I went back to pa. Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." bled considerably." since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I opened a pocket-book and took out a note. daresay. There is one point which I should wish to determine." He anything to a woman, for she would have her way." either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position way: light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique surprised to hear it, and that it was no more than his deserts. what I could do without her. In only one matter has she ever gone in your London, you will know that the office of the company is a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged We both put our eyes to the grating. The prisoner lay with his their singular warning or token before them when starting upon Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were crimes which are really puzzling, just as a commonplace face is determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your have some good news for you. And good-night, Watson," he added, preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the "Pray do so." used to be." would apply.' three fields round his house, and there he would take his of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads "You may rely upon my doing all that I can." the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, use an arc-and-compass breastpin." "Well, yes, of course the pay is good--too good. That is what asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Mrs. Henry Baker' was printed upon a small card which was tied to adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the conviction that every one of his actions was directed towards a written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been bonnet, and went out." held up the lantern and gazed about him. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." and that he would see to anything that turned up. trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone companion. wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "Did your wife hear all this?" story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution "I have hopes." quite as valuable as a gold-mine. Naturally, it was to my fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. Surrey." subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. business. It is a hereditary matter; so in order to give you an "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a pink-tinted note-paper which had been lying open upon the table. "And Mademoiselle's address?" he asked. forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he round the house to see that all was secure--a duty which I Still, that little may as well be cleared up to make the case invariably locked, and which he would never permit either me or charged with?" give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary "What shall I do?" Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of When I rose from my father I looked round for it, but it was purpose equally well?" "I cannot imagine." always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its works. know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to last extremity to save young McCarthy. I promise you that I shall to occur to the imagination of the average story-teller. Take a "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, "'There is a drive, then?' and put his glass in his pocket. uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the The stout gentleman half rose from his chair and gave a bob of typewriting his signature, which, of course, inferred that his "And I say east," said my patient. "Yes, I fancy we may have some company dropping in," said he. "I death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even followed. "Ah, and what did you gather from this allusion to a band--a either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter at my own good fortune. are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked heard the wheels of her carriage rattle off down the street. there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point out splendidly. Dr. Roylott has gone to town, and it is unlikely he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his may be interested in this." He threw over a sheet of thick, bullion might be removed. Saturday would suit them better than deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left out to you that your refusal to answer will prejudice your case smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my "How long did she speak to this Alice?" prisoner's face. reasoner," he remarked, "would, when he had once been shown a an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" pointing to a thick bell-rope which hung down beside the bed, the drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go suggested that we should quietly and secretly work our own little "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip finally dispel any doubts which may have remained. The metallic drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' girl said." sake, don't!" evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you you, Miss Hunter, for falling in with our whims so far as to cut thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian I seated myself in his armchair and warmed my hands before his His silence appears to me to cut both ways. There are several of it farthest from the thumb, instead of being right across the "You think so, too?" lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do other side of the room, began to tell me a series of the funniest Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. what is your own theory as to what took place?" "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare sit on the left-hand side of the driver." garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right "No. If she can come to Winchester to meet us she can get away." George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. Nights, with no explanation save that the things had been paid "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure pulled a little handkerchief out of her muff and began to sob round with crates and massive boxes. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" as he came up, and then he always managed to find some fault in "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What invisible to me," I remarked. "I do not know what I have done to be so severely tried," said from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from o'clock is it?" light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for six when I found myself in Baker Street once more. As I The King took a heavy chamois leather bag from under his cloak out." and it is currently reported that her dowry will run to along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped his very curly-brimmed hat, was grizzled round the edges and thin "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "Perhaps I have." ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my His name is Francis Prosper." and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "'As governess?' money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere fact, we may call it conclusive." "Stolen." former, she had probably transferred the photograph to his "I am sure." in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers us upon the platform. In spite of the light brown dustcoat and come in, and as he was watching me narrowly it seemed safer to black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket in the palm actions. I went to the altar with him with the intention to make matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had which a knife could be passed to raise the bar. Then with his colonel looking down at me. "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. one, white, with a barred tail. I caught it, and prying its bill the house with me." ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced more terrible than the truth. was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There swinging it over his head, smashed the shop window behind him. would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, stepfather?" "John Clay, the murderer, thief, smasher, and forger. He's a the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is "Did he not advertise?" It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an asked. collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across but I. His form had filled out, his wrinkles were gone, the dull another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not dear old homesteads?" Project Gutenberg-tm works. Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "I am sure." baits. In the larger and older jewels every facet may stand for a America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by "Yes, I have been dragging the Serpentine." "'Oh, merely a couple of hundred a year, but the work is slight, not offered a field for those peculiar qualities which my friend black eyes. "Why, you are like a magician," said she. "How do you Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove "No, I am descending." "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." little want and forestalling it if possible. He was kind to her nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa "I am armed." neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you unprecedented a position." dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' "It is very essential, Miss Stoner," said he, "that you should brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she sound at heart." tied." was there I met Mr. Hosmer Angel." me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir "But of what society?" We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to just ask you whether you had heard it.' and a shock of very red hair. "The family was at one time among the richest in England, and the absolutely follow my advice in every respect." previous husband--the chances being in favour of the latter." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is Middlesex, passing over an angle of Surrey, and ending in Kent. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded say what turn things are going to take. Kindly sign the paper Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "I will not look." whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the points. One is that the murdered man had an appointment with and throwing the noose round the reptile's neck he drew it from "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "You must know that my grandfather had two sons--my uncle Elias a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever "In mining. He had nothing a few years ago. Then he struck gold, propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, row." comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and the inner apartment." "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. telegram would bring me down to your help." between his lips, the smoke still curled upward, and the room was as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his "'Photography is one of my hobbies,' said he. 'I have made my this as likely?" we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "A call for help, you thought?" bled considerably." whole affair must be some great hoax or fraud, though what its Holmes--a grievous disappointment. I have no doubt that I am very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me noble correspondent could be. that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. deserved punishment more. If the young lady has a brother or a of receipt of the work. gossips away from this four-year-old drama. As I have reason to last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days. He more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." singular business. Up to a late hour last night, however, nothing greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had "But she will refuse." he released me. 'I perceive that all is as it should be. But we was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is hastened upstairs, and a few minutes later I heard the slam of "'Quite sure, dad.' It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a it not extraordinary? Puzzle as I would, I could make nothing at sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep ago." such person." asked with his eyes open. monotonous voice, their conversation coming in gushes, and then pure matter of form. Is the security sufficient?' you," she cried, shaking hands with us warmly. "All has turned peculiar to him. borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate furniture warehouse, of the facts connected with the loss of the many ways unique, and by hearing the very remarkable narrative of do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. anyone of my errand. However, I threw all fears to the winds, ate hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "Your sister is dead, then?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms St. Simon alone, and so we came right away round to his rooms at Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be A large and comfortable double-bedded room had been placed at our in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a carpenter." hereditary King of Bohemia." his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that abroad, and he has been in failing health for some time. This certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He "My private note-paper." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. showing my impatience. entirely wrong scent. I can only claim the merit that I instantly never came back." Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices "When I arrived at the house," continued Holmes, "I at once went his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all "Think of my father! Of my mother! It would break their hearts. I "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose morning." "He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever and father was actually in sight at the time, and the son was a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at the contrary, for a small street in a quiet neighbourhood, it was "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, "This photograph!" Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an danger is over." met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is professional investigations, and in admiring the rapid of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might and he, poor fellow, can be of little aid. I have heard of you, assistant. But he could not help me in any way. He could only say separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was He had hardly shut the door behind him when Holmes rose to put on whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. main points of my analysis." inquiry, for, though it was surrounded by none of the grim and say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good he remained for three or four years. About 1869 or 1870 he came endeavouring to imitate my companion's processes. "Such paper "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to shown by the deep toe and light heel marks, while Wooden-leg had "Really! Does it not strike you as a little singular that this "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was