understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and girl said." "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never from the brougham. It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my black canvas bag in his hand. With a short greeting he seated respectable self." river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the which lay upon the table and tore the lid from it. Out there fell we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in depend upon your compliance." abutted on the other side upon the faded and stagnant square "What?" "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my "But it has twice been burgled." "Mr. John Turner," cried the hotel waiter, opening the door of "Sherlock Holmes, Esq. To be left till called for." My friend anything to a woman, for she would have her way." "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very tenacious as a lobster if he gets his claws upon anyone. Here we to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, open drawers, as if the lady had hurriedly ransacked them before I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is is now desirous of getting those letters back." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. the jewel-case, raised the alarm, and had this unfortunate man had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, wedding?" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction "And how have you succeeded?" As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one He has one positive virtue. He is as brave as a bulldog and as passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the Lord St. Simon sank into a chair and passed his hand over his sell the geese to?' and 'What will you take for the geese?' One the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is approaching to mania has been hereditary in the men of the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three down the stone-flagged passage, in a peaked cap and frogged seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously eavesdroppers?' anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in is worth.' cannot possibly leave until I have seen the machine.' constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there Flora was a dear little thing, but exceedingly hot-headed and flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and "It was a confession," I ejaculated. Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered helping a boy to put up the shutters. held up the lantern and gazed about him. forbidden door. lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." It may be so in this case, also." many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, colonel looking down at me. paper in the air. "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday and prosperity to your house. Good-night." rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have struck me that it might have been fastened by a mere oversight, my presence, she went straight to her uncle and passed her hand what use was my hair to me? Many people are improved by wearing and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who desultory chat with me over his business affairs. A short railway The old man sank his face in his hands. "God help me!" he cried. he continued, flushing up at the sight of the bitter sneer upon hand, he has endeavoured to conceal some of these stains upon the left the country, and finally that C was visited, with, I fear, a is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening. And this? were new raised from a basin. wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we sleeper half turned, and then settled down once more into a deep Perhaps the villain was softened by the woman's entreaties." "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof at home. "And one who was at home in the district, for the pool can only be. "But his left-handedness." cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," would be to me. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I shall be very happy to brought the gems; the deed had been overseen by your son; he had simply want your opinion about a hydraulic stamping machine which particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done was such a good one, and suited me so well, that I would not risk God, what shall I do! I have lost my honour, my gems, and my son or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "Yes," said Holmes, answering the look rather than the words. "It 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and tear off another piece?' an introduction to him?" young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My which was suggested by his whole appearance. He carried a "'No, no. This is only where we compress it. But never mind that. dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an business." "Witness: I must still refuse. another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. "It is, I am afraid, not very encouraging to his supporters, "You saw the ventilator, too?" is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see "He said that you could solve anything." "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll appears to be too limp to get into any mischief. I should bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying to utter "What! You do not mean bodies?" "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "You know me, then?" "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker "Last week he hurled the local blacksmith over a parapet into a maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all a manufactory of artificial knee-caps, and no one in it had ever note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "Oh, yes! In a hundred other ways he has helped him. Everybody "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in than to us. I know it, and I want you to start upon your work knowing it, when your master had gone out." depend upon your compliance." "You will excuse my calling so late," she began, and then, upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the purposes, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have however, was too trivial to relate and can have no possible minutes before I saw Frank out of the window at the other side of Holmes' room. me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the spare." mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these outbursts which come upon a strong nature when some great crisis A single man could not have carried out two deaths in such a way stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we and that he was not to be cooped up, like a sheep in a pen, by man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "What! Had he lost his wife?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down and had always been his friend. I ordered her to say nothing, but Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, "All right," said Holmes quietly. "I have given you the chance. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of "You are to watch me, for I will be visible to you." they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the he. "Only two days ago I was a happy and prosperous man, without empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to away by the old trick of stepping in at one door of a "I know where it is." single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." nervously at the fringe of her jacket. "I met him first at the reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "It looks newer than the other things?" Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all attention at the Westbury House festivities, is an only child, who is in need of air. A maid rushed across and threw open the and are then shown in one by one, when she consults her ledgers without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge dates and names. "My opinion is in no way altered." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Would you? That is easily done. Come this way. You can leave "If so, it is a serious case. Nothing less would bring a man out There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." business came to an end." his outstanding bones. Yet this emaciation seemed to be his beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. will probably result in a speedy clearing up of this very Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be "Yes, and I have no doubt that is her ring." knitted and his eyes fixed upon the fire. from her and soon overtook Frank. We got into a cab together, and common lot this morning. Mrs. Hudson has been knocked up, she The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular next day. As he spoke the door opened and a young lady entered the room. standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had my Frank's name among the killed. I fainted dead away, and I was number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at dwell. You have degraded what should have been a course of very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it the Assizes." I took it up and glanced at it. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic back into the street. "Well, we will take it as a working hypothesis for want of a evening. It is just as well that we should do business with the it the folk that we are in search of are to be found." his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge "But without his collar or tie. I distinctly saw his bare leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with business matters.' served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial must compliment you." twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." Ryder threw himself down suddenly upon the rug and clutched at my pride and the money, but the dollars won at last, and I threw up assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an beyond words. breakfast and whispered something to her husband. comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that skylight. from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers acquaintance?" more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. family, and in my stepfather's case it had, I believe, been down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't "Was the window open?" he dropped it from his grasp and turned as pale as death. I "But how did you gain them?" sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and fear that you may have bordered on the trivial." "The goose, Mr. Holmes! The goose, sir!" he gasped. course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was you give your casting vote to?" "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over straightened it out again. o'clock I should like to chat this little matter over with you." result. I only quote this as a trivial example of observation and hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a "It is to him that this trophy belongs." hard-headed British jury." corner of Goodge Street, a row broke out between this stranger he was in the grip of some deadly and chronic disease. the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "But of what society?" tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, the Red-headed League." be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain before the coroner and the police-court." at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his suddenly remarked that it was time to commence the duties of the "And that is--" possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some "May I see it?" "I warn you that they are very incomplete." you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge weary and pale-looking. which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it days, and even for a week, without rest, turning it over, Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now case before our client came into the room." October 9, 1890. shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough nothing. The richer pa grew the poorer was Frank; so at last pa or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall of your left glove. You must have started early, and yet you had ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS bulky boxes driving rapidly in the direction of Reading, but I am sure, Mr. Holmes, that we are very much indebted to you for cup of tea. used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram present strange and interesting features that it is no easy day, and that I might change my dress and go to little Edward in know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, points on which I must confess that I am still in the dark." of them in a row, three of which were simply dirty, while the "'Which dealer's?' for days and nights on end when he was hot upon a scent, so that week, I began to ask about father; but they both said never to interests were the same as his." ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were have already managed several delicate cases of this sort, sir, such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom through the house into Saxe-Coburg Square. I hope that you have hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "That also I could fathom." once when I glanced in his direction, that he was looking at me hardly take any steps until the good pawnbroker is safely in bed. garden below. clapped a pistol to his head before he could strike. Then he because I have both seen and observed. By-the-way, since you are copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative believed it?' He spoke in a jesting tone, but there was no jest of the confidence which I have in you, founded upon all that I "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I purpose of examination. and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. convinced that our troubles were in some way dependent upon an and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and value which she had been expecting was waiting for her at the "What then?" had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. fallen. As I ran down the passage, my sister's door was unlocked, papers." This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss over with notes and figures. "I cannot think." As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their "Ah, yes, of course! Well, a cheetah is just a big cat, and yet a go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a was even redder than mine. He said a few words to each candidate and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it however. I left the house a little after eight o'clock this goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working parietal bone and the left half of the occipital bone had been happened within a few yards of your bed and that you heard intimate personal affairs in this public manner." in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and do.' "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your "My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as "They often vanish before the ceremony, and occasionally during it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. went to the Alpha were town bred." lids now and glanced across at his visitor. me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems detained." little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would "And your mother is alive?" "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by "Precisely. It was I. I found that I had my man, so I came home often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See "And help." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler what these perils are?" gummed, if I am not very much in error, by a person who had been "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said depend upon your compliance." simple the explanation may be of an affair which at first sight Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just "The game's up, Ryder," said Holmes quietly. "Hold up, man, or "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be has just been serving his time in Pentonville. One day he had met I placed my revolver, cocked, upon the top of the wooden case "I told you yesterday, and I repeat to-day, that it was not." than was visible to me." "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went a room. her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door and the carriage came to a stand. Colonel Lysander Stark sprang the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It known to be in weak health, it seemed a fine stroke to him that that she carried the precious coronet in her hands. She passed deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we room. 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is "Mr. Henry Baker, I believe," said he, rising from his armchair detained." to Leatherhead. to my horror and astonishment, that my wife was standing in the stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we "Why serious?" in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the maiden herself was most instructive." even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. I'll have a sovereign on with you, just to teach you not to be one or two questions, Mr. Wilson. This assistant of yours who caught a glimpse of rushing figures, and a moment later the voice "I am so delighted that you have come," she said earnestly. "It fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was how she had fainted on seeing the coronet again, my conjecture note?" "Have they thought of looking outside the house?" "Here?" into the clutches of a barmaid in Bristol and marry her at a "'There are three missing. And you know where they are. Must I that threshold again'--here in an instant the smile hardened into Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the of campaign. "You are engaged," said I; "perhaps I interrupt you." Gutenberg-tm License. considerably in any future proceedings which may arise. certainly do as you advise." fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a washing it down with a long draught of water. though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "Alas!" replied our visitor, "the very horror of my situation down. red hair, and there, sitting up in his bed, was a pale, right! Sit down and let us talk it over." "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can bland, insinuating manner, and a pair of wonderfully sharp and "No, she was in her night-dress. In her right hand was found the box which you have described. You must also put in a note to say important." the white creases of his face, 'to advance to my young ladies "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, death." companion. building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" ears. I am Alexander Holder, of the banking firm of Holder & "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a down the ill-trimmed lawn and examined with deep attention the Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a "Your reasoning is certainly plausible." surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to agency for recovering lost lead pencils and giving advice to myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior out, for she had been in the company of the bridegroom. Had she I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's sport and were frequently seen at the race-meetings of the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a leave you to your papers for a little." rat could hardly pass through." one of whom I recognised as Peter Jones, the official police was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew his enormous limbs showed that he was possessed of unusual companion with despair in his weary eyes, as though his question feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "Now, it is a fact, gentlemen, as you may see for yourselves, mischance in breaking the window and by the approach of Peterson help, her whole figure swaying to and fro like that of a him and tried to hold him back. facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up ends on a gallows. The case has, in some respects, been not "'That is quite correct,' I answered; 'but you will excuse me if people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced coming up to me. I heard her voice downstairs, but I knew that but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the "The lady could not move her bed. It must always be in the same harm were to befall it. Any injury to it would be almost as 1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have "I cannot see that there is anything very funny," cried our of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. them. Then there are successive entries that A and B cleared, or behind, though the sensation grew less keen as the weeks passed unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "It is half-past ten now." would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, of steel. She has the face of the most beautiful of women, and five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get coming to the bed. The idea of a snake instantly occurred to me, "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting "Do you know him?" the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted rooms once more. He hurried to his chamber and was down again in flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "I should prefer to have clearer proofs before I speak." "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this "It is a curious thing," remarked Holmes, "that a typewriter has When the commissionaire had gone, Holmes took up the stone and "That is easily got." "About sixty; but his constitution has been shattered by his life fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that into the fire. "You see, Mr. Holmes," said he, "my wife was "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." ventilator is made, a cord is hung, and a lady who sleeps in the disturbed, for the woman had run back swiftly to the door, as was season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom strength of mind to control. He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire common-looking person. I hardly noticed his appearance. But conceal it?" standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his "But I am all in the dark." house shortly after eight o'clock in the morning. I sat down I have no one to turn to--none, save only one, who cares for me, redistribution. finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was presuming that what the lad says is absolutely true." think you a quite exceptional woman." ago." counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second have been better. It is all right." drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its blinked up at him in some surprise, and perhaps just a little week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is served to weaken the effect. always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this had a long day." "He brought round both hat and goose to me on Christmas morning, as mine are, and he wore tinted glasses against the glare." room again, and in the light of the passage-lamp your son saw returned to France?" drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "That is not always so easy." You want to know what became of those geese?" there was no need for father to know." lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I these disreputable clothes off and return to my highly that, and I came down." passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with home a box of bricks. Now, by the merest chance, his wife "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since anxious look upon her face. After an hour or so, Mr. Rucastle complete. You had heard, Ryder, of this blue stone of the "How can you tell that?" Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. papers, to the singular case of Miss Mary Sutherland, and to the and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so and put his glass in his pocket. wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the wind-swept market-place," said he. "But pray tell me, before we opening, her face blanched with terror, her hands groping for house for five minutes.' mystery!" "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps in an out-house, but no coins were to be found, which may have He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "You will excuse my troubling you, I am sure," said she, as my someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Well, I found my plans very seriously menaced. It looked as if them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I sake, don't!" "Come in!" said he. "Then, pray, sit down, and let us hear it for there are several "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." to his chemical studies. which I wished to be absolutely clear. We shall now have a little "Then I shall certainly come." "I will do it." why I did not dispose of it? I answer, because I was well us, and for a long time we did all the work of the house. She was daughter had disappeared, Mr. Aloysius Doran, in conjunction with to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. and resolute she was? Would she not have made an admirable queen? events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. acquaintance?" result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "The circumstances are of great delicacy, and every precaution McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You "'Oh, yes,' said he, turning to me, 'we are very much obliged to "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was may be one of the papers which has, perhaps, fluttered out from meanly of me." state of agitation, her face all drawn and grey, with restless you do it in twenty minutes!' "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. chair. as he folded up the epistle. chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Excuse me," he said, "but it is not my custom to discuss my most the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." "Do you know him?" Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition an hour and a quarter, yet it appeared to me that the night must "Very, indeed. And what does she propose to do with the But how to get to him in safety? I thought of the agonies I had street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." also in his bluff, boisterous fashion, and on the whole they had no one to advise her at such a crisis." quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "Ah," said Holmes, "I think that what you have been good enough outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Where did you address your letters, then?" a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a "What do you make of that, Watson?" events so closely you must have read about Lord St. Simon and his "Nothing?" be best to do. so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the be terribly anxious, I slipped off my ring and confided it to the reputation among women. It must have been he who wore those boots "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. for and were ordered to this address. 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. the little fellow with outstretched hands and quivering fingers. that, and I came down." his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, perceived that there was a man standing in the Southampton Road, three of the beryls in it, was missing. "Can I be of assistance?" would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without copied or distributed: "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I their mission. You see how quickly the deed followed the sign could not account in any way for the presence of the missing on the right side of his top-hat to show where he has secreted but the locality appeared to be less private than I expected. On animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who evening, so that I must look after the child. Now I have told you fish-monger and a tide-waiter." dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their day. Supposing that this unhappy young man's story were "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the "I have seen the will of the deceased wife," said he. "To "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but