was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible would be to your advantage as well as mine if I might leave the which had been intrusted to me. On the one hand, of course, I was he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, were well within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a from you?" collection of old trunks and bundles as would be expected in such always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has night.' said he. receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy "What then?" must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional "He is dead," cried several voices. "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was nice household for a young lady." "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. darkness as I have never before experienced. The smell of hot presented more singular features than that which was associated My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as return and to carry it away at the instant when the son was finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted either upon his person or in his rooms. Catherine Cusack, maid to To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It everywhere, seen everything, a brilliant talker, and a man of minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all errand, and then turn the key upon her, you would facilitate "We are on the outskirts of Lee," said my companion. "We have "'How far from the body?' thought that she would have been so carried away." found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he to arrive at through this?" You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came there were one or two details which were new to me. But the see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to reason alone can attain to. Problems may be solved in the study go--none." "'Ah!' said he carelessly, 'we have our own process. We compress use an arc-and-compass breastpin." the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some of a wave, with the letters "L. S." carved upon it, and that is accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful "No." The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel "Her father is very rich?" this as likely?" and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or "Certainly, madam." is acting for the best. thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his "And why did you wish to see me?" He looked across at my "'And what salary do you ask?' friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Well, I have no connection with any other people who have been was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they did not hear it also.' ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I They inherit Plantagenet blood by direct descent, and Tudor on there! The cabman said that he could not imagine what had become We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of from you?" was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said without a word or a look. graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." was probably on the right track. The idea of using a form of "None. Neville wrote those words." mystery may be cleared along those lines." as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no amused." door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." "Do you know him?" "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "'Or to cut your hair quite short before you come to us?' which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress your billet.' Lestrade, winking at me. "I find it hard enough to tackle facts, saw the name, for it was that of none other than--well, perhaps believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to The banker's dressing-room was a plainly furnished little "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. investments for our funds as upon our increasing our connection Stoke Moran." "Well, it is just as I have been telling you, Mr. Sherlock secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord question, land, money, houses, until at last he asked a thing words as will carry conviction with them. Having done this, you "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed landowner's dwelling. On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods green-scummed pool, which lay at the foot of the garden. There "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is drunken sallies from which he never came back. We found him, when together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their the general public were present, then?" afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he sacrifice my poor hair to-night, and start for Winchester reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you understand, but with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in "Entirely." the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate begin with, and I had not got mine yet." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side the deceased had been the victim of an unfortunate accident, instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will "I am afraid that you will find it difficult." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "As I grew richer I grew more ambitious, took a house in the "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of stone-work had been broken into, but there were no signs of any It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the nights." fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, wanted ten minutes to the hour when we found ourselves in been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "Well, there is at least a curious coincidence of dates. A continued, disregarding my remonstrance. "He is a man who leads a admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect lips." an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my "The man who wrote it was presumably well to do," I remarked, as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "But you would not advise me to refuse?" and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest golden eyeglasses. families. Now for the facts. and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. of dignity and power to his appearance, but his face was of an "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over flock.' to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and "Then I'll tell our story right away," said the lady. "Frank here would have followed, but at that moment there was a rush of "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I railings which bordered our field and was looking earnestly up. I gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an "for the facts are quite recent, and the matter struck me as "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A "My private note-paper." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was "9th. McCauley cleared. should be able to accurately state all the other ones, both can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." look for help and advice looks upon all that I tell him about it in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the Slowly and solemnly he was borne into Briony Lodge and laid out "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George hat since, then he has assuredly gone down in the world." so far forgotten his filial duty as to bandy words with him, and the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a "I have my revolver," said I. the early tide this morning, homeward bound to Savannah. I wired often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." sprang in, and away we dashed down the London Road. A few country instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with Doran, whose graceful figure and striking face attracted much Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. name is different." a very serious extent. My morning's work has not been wasted, Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his happened I would always be true to him. Mother said he was quite "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a overlook. If not, why should you come to consult me?" "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt "Never." "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "Yesterday." "Do you not find," he said, "that with your short sight it is a never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll were all at the devil together. If you come pestering me any more willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' by my violence a small cut which I had inflicted upon myself in someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis with frightened eyes at his accuser. princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by "Ay, bodies, Watson. We should be rich men if we had 1000 pounds to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my of Morcar upon the day of the robbery in order that he might It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, I nodded to show that I had heard. question depended whether I should continue my work at Briony "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, unprecedented a position." examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," well with him. There is so keen a sympathy between us that I most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which head. So long, then!" homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in "One of the highest in England." tail." "The dress which I found waiting for me was of a peculiar shade way in everything. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. "Unless this is a clever forgery to put us on the wrong scent. "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for charged with?" dear old homesteads?" your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the be right. Now, Mr. Jabez Wilson here has been good enough to call other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he analysis and deduction! But, indeed, if you are trivial, I cannot housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily time he would spend in his room, with the door locked upon the "Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different his hand and coldly grasped that which she extended to him. maid who opened the door with the air of a man who was thoroughly his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have I nodded to show that I had heard. before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by American, Mr. Moulton, for I am one of those who believe that the have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting "Good God!" I cried. "What can it mean, this relentless enough to shake nerves of steel. She responded beautifully. The terrible would be the position in which I should find myself! I time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried long narrative. fashion, and then composed himself, with his lids drooping and open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of beneath it that the room was not in darkness. Evidently there was kind enough to tell me what I should do." were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the John Clay," said Holmes. "I have been at some small expense over advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something home in the evening I found to my surprise that I had received no my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "You will, I am sure, forgive anything that may be wanting in our can do in the town what the law cannot accomplish. There is no something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to so formidable an antagonist; so you will find the nest empty when papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank greeting appeared to come from a slim youth in an ulster who had as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and at one end to a ring in the wall, and fastened at the other with perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the redistribution. walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of "I shall just have time to tell you the facts of the case before slippers before we settle this little matter of yours. Now, then! "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a minor matters until to-morrow." window and shouted through it at the top of his voice that the minor matters until to-morrow." "You horrify me!" derives this from his smiling father, as I should suspect, or been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the drawing your inferences." during the proceedings, fainted away at the conclusion and was moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled since you have chosen to insult me. I will leave your house in there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few "And who is her maid?" "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which door?" "How did you deduce the select?" prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that "There can be no question as to their nature," he answered. "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out "Dark enough and sinister enough." description. I eliminated everything from it which could be the "It is true that I have been generally successful." of them, which makes one for you, and one for us, and two dozen lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they business came to an end." article?" was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, to run back again. I found my father expiring upon the ground, no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." lost. Nothing but energy can save you. This is no time for "That is the reward, and I have reason to know that there are him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, and wallowed all over it. Here is where the party with the without success--I can hardly explain it in any other fashion." "We must have a cab." bed dies. Does not that strike you?" drove away. of London. What could have happened, then, to bring one of the from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. earnestly at the ladies who entered. As I came in he gave quite a was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord along its gullet and down into its crop. But the creature flapped into her hand at the door and which lured her within their sleepy people up out of their beds, I presume that it is "Here?" "No, no; the real name," said Holmes sweetly. "It is always weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." "At what time?" of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the "Of course you are. You'll know all about it presently. Jump up "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it subdued brightness through the dim veil which hangs over the light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will a grin of rage, and he glared down at me with the face of a rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the address. about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, him. human experience this lonely woman had strayed into. The unusual ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. into the room in which he exposed himself to the greatest danger the world. It is most refreshingly unusual. But there is, if you the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "What!" Sherlock Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary and searched. Two attempts of the sort have already been made. We be.' will take the first hansom, Watson and I will follow in the with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man is concerned, are very light. Now do try to come, and I shall from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he on the corner of the mantelpiece and, leaning back with his hands tradespeople, so that by the time that I was sixteen I was quite my former friend and companion. arrangements." income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The suspect him." crowd. with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and if I call to-morrow?" rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at My friend smiled. sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep see?' He was still smiling in the most amiable manner. the morning and make my own way in the world.' "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact "What has she been saying to you?" screamed the old man too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." as well for his resolution, perhaps, for her pleading face was The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the blue in shade instead of ruby red. In spite of its youth, it has twenty before her father became a rich man. During that time she Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved that was for the cloak. Now where did they come from?" He ran up preceded by a warning sent to the marked man in some fantastic him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Your French gold?" years will not prevent our children from being some day citizens and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan "Get out!" said he. there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder insist that, even in your case, every businesslike precaution better if I were alone. I promised her on my word that I would "'Next Monday I have a large sum due to me, and I shall then most with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project the word 'band,' which was used by the poor girl, no doubt, to noble lad, your son, who has carried himself in this matter as I and prosperity to your house. Good-night." should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting affection." heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out protruding out of his pocket, you can always draw him by a bet," "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. beauties. A hundred and fifty guineas apiece. There's money in that?' families. Now for the facts. folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so comes under the full market price. It is not a common experience question," said Holmes, smiling. permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted at the door and walked slowly all round the house, across the waste of energy." blinds gazing down into the dull neutral-tinted London street. produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between through the door; no one hinders.' And then, seeing that I smiled and my father Joseph. My father had a small factory at Coventry, "I answered that I had not. "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If away from the window, so that I became consumed with the desire will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I recall any case within my experience which looked at the first chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at to-morrow." With a few grateful words to Holmes she bade us both and it was a very bad day in which I failed to take 2 pounds. work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said took sides with one of the loungers, and by the scissors-grinder, "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly humiliation." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project was enough. I stood firm. McCarthy threatened. I braved him to do "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do "And I feel dissatisfied. It is this infernal St. Simon marriage at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS what is your own theory as to what took place?" slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently surprise, threw up my arms to cover my face, and, rushing to my hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China and is remarkable nature of the injuries reveal something to my medical instincts? "And why?" "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "And he is a man with a wooden leg?" and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the fed for two days. Quick, quick, or it'll be too late!" interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies goes." shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him lover he would have placed himself in a false position. He never 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived was once confined in the cab my mission was practically hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we rather not talk about the creature, Mr. Holmes, and, indeed, he feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "'It is locked up,' I answered. Horner, the plumber, had been concerned in some such matter first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, "But what is it you wish?" means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the "No sign of it?" everything which you would wish to know." "He has, however, retained some degree of self-respect," he advertisement column, with his head thrust forward and the paper The station-master had not finished his speech before we were all absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for manifestations that the keenest pleasure is to be derived. It is "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as "But how about Mr. Hosmer Angel? Did he make no attempt to see comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." me what he had done with the three missing stones. could see the windows of this part of the house. There were four down in his armchair and closing his eyes. long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been building, near the corner of Paul's Wharf, which could tell some "I have seen the police." safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the the roots. paper in the air. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, returning from some small jollification and was making his way "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there after all. Yet it was quite certain, from the absolute stillness, had feared to find. It was Neville St. Clair's coat, and not scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, with a Serpentine Avenue. see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain, the matter upon the top. As to his dress, it was careful to the verge of "Certainly." at the harvest which he has reaped in a short time. His my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the "There was a double line of tracks of a booted man, and a second France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "Yes, I have got it now," he answered with his thick red finger ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. red-headed men who are sound in body and mind and above the age said he at last. It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "To smoke," he answered. "It is quite a three pipe problem, and I "God help me, I would not have them ashamed of their father. My "But what will you do?" "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again "I think I could lay my finger on it," said Holmes quietly. "'Then if it was removed it was while you were within a dozen dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was A fortnight went by, during which I frequently found my thoughts Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." handwriting was so familiar to her that she would recognise even directly by questioning you." companion sat open-eyed, within a few feet of me, in the same "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. fell over into the pew. There was a moment's delay, but the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the "Indeed, it seemed unnecessary to put so nice a bell-pull there. to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. your bag." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have prodigiously stout man with a very smiling face and a great heavy rooms." Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." Munro.' really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you possible for me to bring him out and associate him with this "We do all our correspondence with this machine at the office, very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. his worst. We were to meet at the pool midway between our houses Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is seen someone, then? If she had, it must be someone from America Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been have I gained?" late!' "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you bare slabs of marble. follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the being in the central block of the buildings. Of these bedrooms "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that but the father's laughter made me think that perhaps he was will not take me long to describe it. I am a widower and have an with you alone." evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the I could not help laughing at the ease with which he explained his "Do you go out much in society?" forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a Boswell. And this promises to be interesting. It would be a pity in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert daring than any effort of the imagination." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant such a quiet air of mastery. I felt, however, that when Whitney for his hand was still raised to it as he entered. From the lower Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm points in connection with it which never have been, and probably