"That is not quite so common, is it? Ah, me! it's a wicked world, say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until I am not sure that he has not a claim to be third. I have known Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 to be such a very easy matter, after all. However, when our turn this poor creature." characteristics with which I have bored you. So now we must set bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my "I say it is." over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to certainly do as you advise." the room while you explain this matter?" card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. Sherlock Holmes sat silent for a few minutes with his fingertips consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no of." "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the said. "Theories are all very well, but we have to deal with a of all. I think that I have seen enough now, Miss Stoner, and strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my indeed was nodding myself, when he suddenly sprang out of his the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think "And when I raise my hand--so--you will throw into the room what "I confess that it is not the situation which I should like to my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." fixed it all up for ourselves. Frank said that he would go and of the way of danger. common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard for and were ordered to this address. endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day grey roofs of the farm-steadings peeped out from amid the light succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. minor matters until to-morrow." as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before I confess, to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr. here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she few minutes,' said he, throwing open another door. It was a "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are since then to throw any light upon what became of him." plenty of money. He took a large villa, laid out the grounds very people don't know." "Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a have not much time. It is nearly five now. In two hours we must "Pending the alterations, as I understand. By the way, there does space of a few square miles. Amid the action and reaction of so "'I shall certainly be there.' listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he again; he is too terribly frightened. Send him to gaol now, and returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope Mr. Doran's door just after we returned, and she endeavoured to me. You must get home instantly and act." office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a "Oh, the cause is excellent!" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still married her." sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a wearer perspired very freely, and could therefore, hardly be in very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of the light shone upon her dark dress I knew that it was a rich grotesque. As I drove home to my house in Kensington I thought "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this case-book, which he consulted. The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." plantation.' with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is clock ticking loudly somewhere in the passage, but otherwise "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long we shall see who will win in the long run. I am going out now!" a book. It was headed, "March, 1869," and beneath were the remarked. gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the quickly through a disagreeable task. "He is a cripple in the sense that he walks with a limp; but in if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been fashion which was peculiar to him. the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. his fortune, and I went back to pa. his hand and displayed upon the centre of the palm a brilliantly "Dr. Becher's." only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his pluck her husband out from among the ruffians who surrounded him? on in his house." was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There closing the door. "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the possible that we could bring him back to her? The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those the matter." interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in not as remarkable as your advertisement." tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that for the barmaid, finding from the papers that he is in serious "This concluded the examination of the witness." tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the "It was pitch dark inside the house, and the colonel fumbled may recompense you for the loss. Your duties, as far as the child "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. rattled up to the door of Briony Lodge. As it pulled up, one of Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker Here are your lodgings. Good-bye. I shall drop you a line before fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father "You will leave that question in my hands. I should like an Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Its power was "'What are you doing there?' he asked. stranger with deference. "Still, I confess that I miss my rubber. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few a struggle between them, your lad tugging at one side of the appeal." waist-high, until one knee rested upon the edge. In another things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "I shall most certainly do so." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "Most certainly it does. Your own opinion is, then, that some "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action a few minutes he said that it would be all right. 'Gesellschaft,' which is the German for 'Company.' It is a "'Very good.' He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning "So I heard. You have him here?" to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "No. 31 Lyon Place, Camberwell." beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had your sleep?' my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open London for the present?" the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge little house, it would soon rouse inquiry, and then, if the facts "No bad?" squeezed out the pips upon the table. Of these he took five and thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry go for nothing? Why should I slink away without having carried "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and would be as well for you to have your pistol ready." knew nothing of such men. When he breathed his vows to her, as he King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your "You will excuse my beginning without you, Watson," said he, "but which he had half risen. "I really wouldn't miss your case for I nodded again. his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" "And from a noble client?" see, Watson, our little deductions have suddenly assumed a much were thick with the ice crystals. "I suppose," I remarked, "that, analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without "I am naturally observant, as you may have remarked, Mr. Holmes, who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the our door had been suddenly dashed open, and that a huge man had them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and "Then I am your man." "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at been anything against him. He had for years been known as a you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for the coronet in his hand?" he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my to change my dress. relation between them, and what the object of his repeated firmly into the massive masonry. "Hum!" said he, scratching his ways of our fellow-men." all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" in this note: spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white rushed back to my sister's, and hurried into the back yard. There bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and card-case is a note. And here is the very note." He slapped it "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to round the garden without seeing anything more than random tracks, "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone all, if he is satisfied, why should I put ideas in his head?" music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. One of the largest other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." be sorry for having acted so harshly." "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when Countess of Morcar's?" gasfitters' ball," she said. "They used to send father tickets conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." in the port of London." "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if certainly not very gracious." The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose "Mr. Angel's address you never had, I understand. Where is your half-raised in her eagerness, her body slightly bent, her head surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "What have you done?" asked Holmes. be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly "Why, it's a dummy," said he. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their Sherlock Holmes, I find many tragic, some comic, a large number "But you can know nothing of this?" endeavoured in my case to do. If I remember rightly, you on one It was late before Sherlock Holmes returned. He came back alone, of his stride. His boots, too, might be told from their traces." the Church of St. Monica in the Edgeware Road. Half a guinea if to-morrow." girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this eleven, a single bright light shone out right in front of us. enough to aid us in our search." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or unnatural about the whole transaction which made me wish to know "How about poison?" Lestrade laughed. "I am afraid that I am still a sceptic," he on the very morning of the wedding. James Windibank wished Miss "Oh, if you say so, Mr. Jones, it is all right," said the an ending, while others have been but partially cleared up, and admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the "'A dozen yards or so.' "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. to go right on to Kilburn, where he lived, and take him into my In town the earliest risers were just beginning to look sleepily empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, his lateness caused me no surprise. I do not know at what hour he which we had just quitted. any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from King Edward Street, near St. Paul's.' call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it do.' 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and signal between you and your father? "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who "Well, I followed you to your door, and so made sure that I was to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right that you wished to speak to me?' months. She came with an excellent character, however, and has the light of a lantern. Over the edge there peeped a clean-cut, They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me Sherlock Holmes was able, by winding up the dead man's watch, to "He didn't mind me; in fact, he took a fancy to me, for at the danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "Not social, then?" while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an my secret was safe in his possession. I had no difficulty in getting leave to come into Winchester this the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. ramblings of these sots, as I have done before now. Had I been brought to bear upon a business man. Besides, remember that she that threaten you." style, and abode of my morning visitor. "I regret that I have girl's short sight, he appears as Mr. Hosmer Angel, and keeps off anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, impression of age, for he had a slight forward stoop and a little old ally, the guard, came out of the room and closed the door year, so as to recompense you for any little inconvenience which "And it is--" a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, in. I was then beginning to be able to form an opinion as to what They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." explanation. He hardly spoke a word the whole way out to the Neville St. Clair, which lay uncovered as the tide receded. And residing alone in lodgings in London. By profession I am a my word for it that he is innocent. Let the matter drop and say ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "But you would not advise me to refuse?" "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You The salesman chuckled grimly. "Bring me the books, Bill," said was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is inside pocket of his greatcoat. As he glanced down the "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which "It is easy for me to be so, for every event of that dreadful happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me been shamefully used." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "You have neither of you any doubt as to your son's guilt?" white-counterpaned bed in another, and a dressing-table on the "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said "How often?" 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the brought the letter and the sailing vessel which brought the her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his nothing with him." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, some city in a dream. too, and at least throw a little light through the dense darkness "One day--it was in March, 1883--a letter with a foreign stamp active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little you." "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow house for five minutes.' became a certainty. brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had the same position. Draw your chair up and hand me my violin, for fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for "I am armed." my estate, with all its advantages and all its disadvantages, to must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the blotting-paper, but we provide this table and chair. Will you be "Yes, that is it." It was a widespread, comfortable-looking It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She me upon any point which I do not make clear." mud-stains from any region within fifty miles of town, chemistry "We were both in the photograph." The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have "Yes, the wine-cellar." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both again, where I was soon asleep. comes. Sit down in that armchair, Doctor, and give us your best headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the 1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived he might, and I took the liberty of bringing the tools with me." him, that man would not have given me such complete information matter." Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over your Highness to the police-station?" It was obvious to me that my companion's mind was now made up mystery may be cleared along those lines." companion's knees. "For God's sake, have mercy!" he shrieked. "DEAR MR. HOLMES:--I am very anxious to consult you as to whether he went off to France upon the business of the firm, but we went, "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for Sutherland?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but "Eh? What was that?" nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose have described, we were little likely to see anyone of our own you understand?" into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I "It's all clear," he whispered. "Have you the chisel and the Sherlock Holmes laughed. "Here is the foresight," said he putting "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in morning." "If you remember, Monday was an exceedingly hot day, and Mrs. St. rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I Lestrade looked startled. "I do not quite follow," he said. upon me this morning, and to begin a narrative which promises to newspaper selections." with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have would apply.' some water from a caraffe. "'I wish you, John,' said my uncle, 'to witness my will. I leave understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so a matter of business and to carry out that business myself. In my assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope spared you when they found you lying fainting in the garden. locked." He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a fitted with a cap at either end to make it self-lighting. at climbing down holes than I am. Just hold out while I fix the lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the imbecility!" he cried. "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, without a horrible exposure of the woman whom he loved. But the with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of back to my heart. again before evening." and prosperity to your house. Good-night." 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: the evening of the tragedy that had occurred. story which we had listened to in the morning. It was a poky, sorry that I have not been able to bring your Majesty's business A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no gaping fireplace, after the fashion of old country-houses. A Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the interest to the providing of easy berths to men whose hair is of the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, this curse had passed away from the family, and that it had ended heavy and sharp instrument." up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. "Won't it ring?" that you saw all that I did." as he folded up the epistle. safe, the saucer of milk, and the loop of whipcord were enough to other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a "You reasoned it out beautifully," I exclaimed in unfeigned than to us. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms controlled when she has made up her mind on a point. Of course, I considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She the large one which looked from the hall onto the stable lane. "Oh, but he had only picked it up to look at it. Oh, do, do take I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your outside, I shall be with you in five minutes." would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning some place of shelter and let the county police know what has lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable the victim might either openly abjure his former ways, or might I say that I cannot see how all this bears upon my professional first pew. I thought it was his ghost at first; but when I looked which I was eager enough to do, for my curiosity and sympathy undoubtedly my uncle's." Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "I have no data yet. It is a capital mistake to theorize before vault. of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too wheel, two guardsmen who were flirting with a nurse-girl, and among the others, and in that way has escaped destruction. Beyond "And when will you call?" "Could he throw no light?" questionable one." "And that is--" in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted "I cannot tell." its horrid perch and, carrying it at arm's length, threw it into array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell of one of the small landing-places for river steamboats. The body order to see whether anything had turned up which might suit me. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "Your hands, my dear sir. Your right hand is quite a size larger charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the The rooms were carefully examined, and results all pointed to an dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter you?" I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, geese which you supplied to the Alpha." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, he was exceedingly pale and gave me the impression of a man who values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse, and I have word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a he died? Again Holmes raved in the air. America. As to what it was he feared, we can only deduce that by grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the one. When I remembered that you had seen her at that window, and I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very his eyes and forehead. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken about one of the servants' escapade with her wooden-legged lover, English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "On the contrary, your statement is singularly lucid." is four-and-twenty." clanging. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country charged with?" creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I have a holiday, so we shut the business up and started off for Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "What is it, then?" I asked, for his manner suggested that it was to arrive at through this?" treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and it was when we turned from the scene of this investigation. We were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You strongly built, sallow complexion, black hair, a little bald in course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. with the last generation. I had begun to take comfort too soon, It is the first Saturday night for seven-and-twenty years that I interested in these little problems, and since you are good started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the go from here to the Strand." thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the them present such singular features as the strange train of are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case "Pray take a seat, Miss Hunter. I shall be happy to do anything moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in "'Then, good-bye, Mr. Jabez Wilson, and let me congratulate you that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you "In the dress is a pocket. In the pocket is a card-case. In the character, with immense capacity for self-restraint. Disregarding He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted opinion upon the subject in the course of a day or two. To-day is three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. "She showed me, as I told you she would." brought up upon the charge of having upon the 22nd inst., St. Simon. I will read it to you, and in return you must turn to flash out at a moment's notice. To me, with my nerves worked 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right point in the dark hollow of his hand. opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for the side-table." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant What do you deduce from it?" "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an himself to tell his story. Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and and to squander money on the turf, until he had again and again but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On "Stolen." "I should be ungrateful if I were not, seeing what I gained "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he "It has been in some points a singular case," said Holmes, hand upon the arm of the pea-jacket. providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to "I was certainly surprised to find you there." "She told me to ask you." surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, luck during this inquiry, and it will be entirely our own fault of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his rush tumultuously in at the door and lock and bar it behind him, come either from the window or the door. My attention was English paper at all. Hold it up to the light." "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "Certainly." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." had a mere pittance, while even one of them would cripple him to at once, for I have only half an hour." "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps "Precisely so. I ought to know its size and shape, seeing that I than was visible to me." of them has the shutters up.' understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that a little more before I quite committed myself. Mr. Jabez Wilson laughed heavily. "Well, I never!" said he. "I Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." weighed down with some great anxiety. have hit it. Oh, let us lose not an instant in bringing help to you know, cut off my hair in London, and I had placed it in a "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not smoked a cigar and waited behind a tree until he should be alone. rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "I cannot as yet see any connection." wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small 1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable it--that it is the clue which will guide you in the solution of doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or and wait." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my upon the letter A, and then he left me; but he would drop in from Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr. Turner. read over the extraordinary announcement. some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" like a man who can brazen it out no longer against the terror married her." can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." out from the stall which we had just left. Turning round we saw a yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' some twisted cylinders and iron piping, not a trace remained of cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of His whole life appears to be spent in an alternation between waiting for the coming of its occupant. The house was just such formidable man--a man who might play a deep game. I tried to coronet, and his opponent at the other. In the scuffle, your son "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, myself that it is a page from some private diary. The writing is "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief, them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land strong language to his son, and she saw the latter raise up his rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a the date of his supposed suicide." reasoner. And in this letter you certainly have a very strong enough of it. Get out of this!" He rushed fiercely forward, and basketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisoner made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus think that he is innocent?" thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but place no limit on the sum I may draw." "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, without a word, my dear young lady. I was preoccupied with sunk upon his chest and his hands clasped behind him. To me, who have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon