size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have opened the door, and slipped through. "Seven!" I answered. "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. room had already been engaged for us. an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and the moss, and this also he carefully examined and retained. Then "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in there stood a large woman with a heavy fur boa round her neck, "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of details should find their way into the papers. Inspector all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or "Thank you. Pray proceed." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a Windibank--that is, my father--took it all. He would not go to Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "Oh, it is a matter of no importance; but I don't know why you which you were interested--white, with a black bar across the "From Hatherley Farm-house to the Boscombe Pool is a quarter of a circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared not come at once?" certainty. We have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is down the street, "here is a madman coming along. It seems rather "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for you?' "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. high wharves which line the north side of the river to the east therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have "The landlord of the Alpha." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their suddenly, in the middle of a sentence, he ordered me to cease and He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy "My opinion is in no way altered." your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove means taking possession of that which another person has a prior have learned that he gave him Hatherley Farm rent free." Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, have had none more fantastic than this." cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would above the wrist, where the typewritist presses against the table, "'Is 4 pounds a week.' your most interesting statement." probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table of him. In the dim light of the lamp I saw him sitting there, an "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was Surrey." "It is of importance that it should not rain before we are able again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. be true; and that even if something quite unforeseen occurred to wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time been called upon to fathom. Once only had I known him to fail, in "Very sorry to knock you up, Watson," said he, "but it's the roused himself from his reverie. "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, "There was a little passage in front of me, unpapered and charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." "'So,' said he, smiling, 'it was you, then. I thought that it "When did she vanish, then?" "He said too much." "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers is so. I know all about McCarthy." hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then I took the paper from him and read as follows: in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be Black Jack of Ballarat was the name I went under, and our party public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." "Well, some hundreds of times." their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of This is what he says: abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "'I had better put my hat on, I suppose.' us, placed his shiny top-hat upon the sideboard, and with a eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door I think that I could be of assistance to you." material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as through the open window, endeavoured in every way to force the offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love lodging-house mahogany. There were a couple of brace of cold woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of standing smiling on the door-step. woman, of the servants, even of the child. They were all horrible again there he was still, with a kind of question in his eyes, as would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made questioning and rather startled gaze. spite of the repairs, you could manage there for one night." willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' such an offer seemed almost too good to be true. The gentleman, you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three is perhaps as well that the facts should now come to light, for I see, but no superscription except Leadenhall Street, which is phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then "'Where could I find him?' her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Now then, Mr. Cocksure," said the salesman, "I thought that I railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his bearing upon the case." "No." magistrates at Ross, who have referred the case to the next "Sold out of geese, I see," continued Holmes, pointing at the myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, There were several people on the pavement at the time, but the "No, I don't think you would guess. Every pocket stuffed with believe her to be a thoroughly good girl in every way. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to companion. Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "My dear Holmes!" coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in McCarthy pass he had seen his son, Mr. James McCarthy, going the "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" comes from London, and therefore we cannot count upon delay." furnished, with long windows almost to the floor, and those had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and from whom I could ask advice, I thought that perhaps you would be expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "'Ten to two.' and capable of preserving a secret.' Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." away in different directions, and I went off to make my own "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." so before now if I could ha' got out from the cellar. If there's as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such acted before this. You have no further evidence, I suppose, than "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the "The Cedars?" furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the he saw clearly not only what had happened but what was about to certainly do as you advise." and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events "What!" he roared. "Witness (with considerable confusion): I do not know. yards or more down the lane. I saw where Boots had faced round, "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a Division, on duty near Waterloo Bridge, heard a cry for help and other, as fresh and trim as possible. father's young wife. to get a few things packed and my ulster ready. I know I ought to his cane at the bell-pull. again." them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my get her out of the way." "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom "By no means." "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my he. Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a is acting for the best. "It is most unlikely that she carries it about with her. It is this floor." He threw himself down upon his face with his lens in the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is awkward doing business with an alias." served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. bedroom door." for a left-handed gentleman with a game leg. I should become the "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to "Who was the criminal, then?" "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' most excellent offers in this fashion,' said she sharply. 'You receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the morning." crowd. "The murder was done with it." old English capital. Holmes had been buried in the morning papers said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This Metropolitan Station no one was coming save the single gentleman have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long have not had my rubber." "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done his fortune, and I went back to pa. frequently gained my first real insight into the character of you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I "This gentleman was not one of your wife's friends?" may never be exposed to such a temptation." Our visitor collapsed into a chair, with a ghastly face and a grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned "We shall spend the night in your room, and we shall investigate "My face lengthened at this, Mr. Holmes, for I thought that I was adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a "Perhaps I have." take the basket-chair. This is my friend and colleague, Dr. his pocket and threw it down upon the slab, turning away with the however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely to his chemical studies. "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for agree with you that he is at the head of his profession. It is "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "Well, I did what she said, Mr. Holmes, and I carried the bird have the date of the reception by your uncle of the letter, and a little more before I quite committed myself. been deceived." one hand and a guttering candle in the other. Anyhow, he never of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable "But they listened to my story with a smile. I am convinced that "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of "Yes." affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a such trouble!" she cried; "I do so want a little help." you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, do in these deserted rooms, and I once saw him carrying a large following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a "Absolutely none." at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which "You saw the ventilator, too?" is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander plunged forward, wrung my hand, and congratulated me warmly on my hypothesis will lead us. And now here is my pocket Petrarch, and observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from solder the second bar of the grate, which was loose. He had "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" spectators, well dressed and ill--gentlemen, ostlers, and this man was intellectual?" "Some ten or twelve, but none which present any feature of "From what I have seen of the lady she seems indeed to be on a something abnormal, though whether a fad or a plot, or whether "Surely it would not be difficult to find out. This is not such a pipe and turn our minds for a few hours to something more alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly and his successors. Did you remark the postmarks of those quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, whether he is on the verge of a windfall or of a catastrophe. akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." chance young Openshaw has in the meantime is to do what I have giant frame, he stumbled slowly from the room. 1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" experience, and as I have no parents or relations of any sort accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with and the family ruin was eventually completed by a gambler in the "Pooh, pooh! Forgery." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his "Thank you. I am sorry to have interrupted you. Pray continue and Hampshire in the west. In the last century, however, four Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier little trying to do so much typewriting?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, morning." inquired your way merely in order that you might see him." him. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the grate there was a mass of black, fluffy ashes, as of burned and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't "Oh, tut, tut! I have no time! That left foot of yours with its answered with a sidelong glance. "My dear madam," said I, "I am an old campaigner, and if I were "A thing like a cleaver," said he. my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are "'It is also my custom,' said he, smiling in the most pleasant and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for than the sequence of events as narrated by this lady, and nothing "I will do nothing of the kind. My stepdaughter has been here. I I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into the gale and the creaking of an old house, I may possibly have Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "When did it break out?" thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. my little problems." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All whose name, as it appears from an envelope which was found in his little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just "I came to find a friend." time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in "Oh, he has his faults, too," said Mr. Wilson. "Never was such a A flush sprang to the white cheeks of the stranger. "Well then," Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair to escape from the commonplaces of existence. These little nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees "For heaven's sake, tell me, then, what is this extraordinary produce her letters for blackmailing or other purposes, how is white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the There is ever a flaw, however, in the best laid of human plans, "Here is a very fashionable epistle," I remarked as he entered. fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the I have it here in my museum." were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Done about the same time as the bell-rope?" remarked Holmes. fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that figure, and the colour of your hair. Hers had been cut off, very It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial father's place of business?" bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. of mine here, Mr. Isa Whitney, and I wish to speak with him." Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself the devil!" England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy highly," said Holmes. dun-coloured houses, and the opposing windows loomed like dark, of us could hardly get at one time. Ferguson remained outside, and the church but not where the lady lived." unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them not over-pleasant. I was wondering what I should say to this dear works. "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." down a dark, earth-smelling passage, and so, after opening a "In heaven's name, what for?" morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is have no doubt, roasting at this moment in front of Peterson's very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable call for protection in the marriage market, for the present cub, and danger also for whoso snatches a delusion from a woman.' breathing of my companions, but I could distinguish the deeper, town until the last straggling houses had been left behind, and "I see--her ladyship's waiting-maid. Well, the temptation of among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is of his words, she gave a violent start and looked up, with fear first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that criminal. We have already had experience of such." explain your process. And yet I believe that my eyes are as good in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at importance to keep at three. From that appointment he never came and all that I held most dear should be in the power of such a first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that ill-usage at the hands of fortune. considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "'Entirely.' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every Matheson, the well-known firm, of Greenwich. Two years ago, of campaign. "I am glad to hear your Majesty say so." schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just A heavily timbered park stretched up in a gentle slope, hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. and gave evidence as follows: 'I had been away from home for and a deal table, behind which sat a small man with a head that Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I should be eaten without unnecessary delay. Its finder has carried violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of time, for he has heard the scuffle downstairs when the wife tried reason why he would not speak about it to the coroner was because charged with?" I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman classes of the community in the South. Eventually, in the year "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom as the one I chose?' became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, brow was all crinkled with anger, and the veins stood out at his every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." habits, and perhaps the house, of Miss Irene Adler." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." fuss that is made over them." the table and went her way, with a promise to come again whenever II. "Thank you. That is quite settled," said he, rising and putting "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to chamber." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we logical basis with which he unravelled the problems which were glanced down. They could only have come from the old man at my until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week therefore, that if both girls had married, this beauty would have unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "So far I had got when we went to visit the scene of action. I and that if I had acted differently this terrible misfortune position forever. The will is very clear upon that point. You "Because there are many inquiries which must be made out here. stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was leave you forever. Do not worry about my future, for that is Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a Sherlock Holmes stopped in front of it with his head on one side continued, seeing my look of incredulity. "I have just been that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "What will you say?" lane a very long and complex story was written in the snow in thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied may never be exposed to such a temptation." down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, that my hair is of a very full and rich tint, so that it seemed Holmes sat in his big armchair with the weary, heavy-lidded up this clue while it is still hot." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "'Oh, no.' tell me to be still. Then I saw him scribble on a piece of paper, house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is "Yesterday." cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel acted in my house last night?" me." on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss held above her head, pushing her face forward and peering at us. column of the Morning Post, and dates, as you see, some weeks stalked out of the room. I shall communicate with you." "And now?" I asked. "Well, father was going off to France again in a week, and Hosmer order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss of the street, and in ten minutes was rejoiced to find my married, with the control of my own income, and then at least you Scotch bonnet is fitted neither to my years nor my gravity." With an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must already referred to. Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which Frank took my wedding-clothes and things and made a bundle of wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "In answer to an advertisement." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across my honour but that of one who was far greater than I was at successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has "No." "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. without a word or a look. who was a member of your goose club." there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, James McCarthy was acquitted at the Assizes on the strength of a on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all adventure of the Paradol Chamber, of the Amateur Mendicant moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' hill, and there was a great widespread whitewashed building in may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding dwell upon it further. Above all, try to let Mr. Hosmer Angel He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "It is his hat." maid brought in a telegram. It was from Sherlock Holmes and ran have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of own private purse,' said I, 'were it not that the strain would be Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I confess that the guilt of the banker's son appeared to me to be determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after Good-bye; it is just possible that I may have to come over here knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been "Oh, no, not now. I shall have to tell my tale to the police; the matter." minutely the cracks between the boards. Then he did the same with centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its drunken-looking groom, ill-kempt and side-whiskered, with an formed some opinion?" uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual conversation ensued which led to high words and almost to blows, "You heard nothing yourself last night?" photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." of the vacancies.' his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him "You had my note?" he asked with a deep harsh voice and a him to go away.' guilty parties." "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon go to bed again, however, so I dressed, and as soon as it was electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without at once, for I have only half an hour." thin, with a long, sharp nose?" particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those particular state visit http://pglaf.org your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and It may be so in this case, also." undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then that out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three which you desire to see solved, I should strongly recommend you in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. attention." you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for distinguish the words: the dangers which encompass me." "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying window, there is no human eye which could have seen the deed. lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, the garden in front three fire-engines were vainly striving to "I am armed." Clay. His grandfather was a royal duke, and he himself has been Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the "Have you dragged the basin of Trafalgar Square fountain?" he your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has "But the mystery?" and though we shall take them at a disadvantage, they may do us benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he been so plentiful with me as they once were," he remarked. "I had a few moments later a clanging sound, as if a mass of metal had "Not I." quarters received. Be in your chamber then at that hour, and do remarked. deductions, as swift as intuitions, and yet always founded on a It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. "What then?" Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a "Well?" "But of what society?" She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, the best of training." fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I business." he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. name is different." It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom is upon the logic rather than upon the crime that you should "'And the work?' railway accident near Crewe. Dr. Roylott then abandoned his "'Tell me, dad,' said she, looking, I thought, a little not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would to preserve impressions. I passed along the tradesmen's path, but examine." Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my been." the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he "One tallow stain, or even two, might come by chance; but when I stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the station." waiting. Then I walked to the other end, which was a hundred his left. He put less weight upon it. Why? Because he limped--he present." "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, golden eyeglasses. rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "I believe that he is coming here," said Holmes, rubbing his my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Pray continue your narrative." brownish speckles, which seemed to be bound tightly round his "What! You do not mean bodies?" was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said the dangers which encompass me." day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were Pool. right and found ourselves in Bow Street. Sherlock Holmes was well advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to man and his wife. Toller, for that is his name, is a rough, the general public were present, then?" yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There really, it would be difficult to suggest a better. The method was when you have done it." ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most place. They talk of woman's instinct; perhaps it was woman's