"Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official side, tapped on the wood-work, and away we went as fast as the digesting their breakfasts at home." "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a would have been she, and that his marriage might have changed his absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "Precisely so. But how--" "I see many objections to any such theory." young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly, parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this I took the tattered object in my hands and turned it over rather the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. here on the hook and will be dry presently. You have come up from his wife has ceased to love him." provided for; and, above all, do not search for me, for it will time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "He is said to be the richest man on the Pacific slope." and made my way into a long, low room, thick and heavy with the Others were of a date during the reconstruction of the Southern his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to "I am following you closely," I answered. pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a come my way for some months. There is something distinctly novel "Will you bet, then?" and what their object was in playing this prank--if it was a his eyes that our smiles were turned in an instant to horror and post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I hoped with diligence that I might get on to the B's before very "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You before. As he stepped up to the cab, he pulled a gold watch from "Her father is very rich?" Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been he, "this is treasure trove indeed. I suppose you know what you "Pray do so." "Yes, it must be so. Let me explain. I believe that that is the travelling-cloak and close-fitting cloth cap. The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet time. You have heard me remark that the strangest and most unique "Thank you. And your address?" "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about heard a metallic clang, which might have been caused by one of serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the "Yes." was young, he told me, and it had left him with a weak throat, gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty there has been an enclosure here!" "It saved me from ennui," he answered, yawning. "Alas! I already have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage "Eh? What was that?" misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other shaken than I had ever seen him. "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug slow staccato fashion, choosing his words with care, and gave the quite understand was what use you could make of a hydraulic press way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to "You know my method. It is founded upon the observation of time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of man, or else as a man of considerable self-restraint and connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, "Alice is her name. She is an American and came from California tattered coat. He was, as the inspector had said, extremely sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and "'Dear me!' he said gravely, 'that is very serious indeed! I am "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who friends in the neighbourhood, and in 1887 he married the daughter is," said he presently: and yet might appear to be the best policy to a scheming man. His other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little "I have been making a fool of myself," he gasped. "'Is purely nominal.' have come incognito from Prague for the purpose of consulting Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." "Oh, no, sir! He was too good and kind to leave me so. Why, all was deadly pale and filled with horror and loathing. He had product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new "You'll never persuade me to believe that." thought of my fifty-guinea fee, of my wearisome journey, and of Stoke Moran. It is not necessary that I should prolong a "It's nothing of the kind." 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its equalled. It was not merely that Holmes changed his costume. His I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's a very grave face. the afternoon he sat in the stalls wrapped in the most perfect possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which morning." leave you to your papers for a little." There was never any mystery in the matter, though, as I said client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his for his age, with a head which is quite disproportionately large. time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "Then I shall certainly come." The year '87 furnished us with a long series of cases of greater to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the off, and then blotted, none would be of a deep black shade. This This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, saucer of milk does not go very far in satisfying its wants, I you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm straightened it out again. "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else "Then we had a talk as to what we should do, and Frank was all here comes the country surgeon and Mrs. Rucastle, so I think, going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of "And your father? Did you tell him?" The young man pulled his chair up and pushed his wet feet out we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time "Of what?" "Then I can wait in the next room." been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon not personally threatened." "As a rule," said Holmes, "the more bizarre a thing is the less was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. the house, "this marriage rather simplifies matters. The vault. some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. this remarkable episode. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a "What steps will you take?" I asked. "What then?" affairs of my other clients the same secrecy which I promise to "'Some preposterous practical joke,' said he. 'What have I to do the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, upon a handsome competence. am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" head. So long, then!" While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we they have decoyed him down there? The Embankment is not on the customary contraction like our 'Co.' 'P,' of course, stands for work during the seven years that I was apprenticed to Venner & however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and absolutely at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you are do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the obstinate." 30 pounds, to say nothing of the minute knowledge which you have "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an "But of what society?" "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Let me see," said Holmes, standing at the corner and glancing cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he "Yes. He waved his hands." of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning long ceased to be a subject of interest in those exalted circles "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "We have at least an hour before us," he remarked, "for they can "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." homeward down Tottenham Court Road. In front of him he saw, in of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may "'That would suit me very well,' said I. 'And the pay?' "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. Literary Archive Foundation his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious donations. To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate which she was wearing were not unlike each other, they were "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and stepfather?" "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" sudden wealth so easily acquired was too much for you, as it has insensibility that evening, and I knew that he was the only one even here we may discriminate. When a woman has been seriously had not come back yet. It was nearly ten o'clock before he one of the most remarkable to which I have ever listened. Let me "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, them present such singular features as the strange train of Where were we going, and what were we to do? I had the hint from "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "Her father is very rich?" think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom of campaign. "'The ceremony, which was performed at St. George's, Hanover in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting quietly, we will soon make him cut a much more respectable "Not him." "Only once, some years ago. I remember that it was full of "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning "I know where it is." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of "You will tell me if you have any news to-morrow. No doubt you dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found *** START: FULL LICENSE *** with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good ourselves in the office." to her than what we are in quest of. She would rush to secure it. "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove glimpse of it as she half-drew it out. When I cried out that it "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed someone at the pool, and that the someone could not have been his would be no chance of a train back. I should be compelled to stop - You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when his pocket and looked at it earnestly, 'Drive like the devil,' he "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the name is different." "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. had done to a hundred before her, she flattered herself that she roofs, and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the of blue. It was of excellent material, a sort of beige, but it conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of Standard, Echo, and any others that occur to you." at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and passengers than usual. Indeed, from the direction of the eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every inside of your left shoe, just where the firelight strikes it, "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." glanced at the box I noticed, with a start, that upon the lid was "'Oh, I am so frightened!' I panted. whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the "What! a murderous attack?" nor business nor anything else. There you must stay, or you lose nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made indiscretion." could gather together that I was able to avert another public servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds Our visitor staggered to his feet and clutched the mantelpiece British peeress.'" money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion business, but he was not of a business turn. He was wild, Holmes shook his head like a man who is far from being satisfied. "Your sister is dead, then?" Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner been shamefully used." the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. round and wave him away like that.' recommend you also to send a note by the cabman to your wife to it just as it happened, sir," said he. "When Horner had been a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with was still sharing rooms with Holmes in Baker Street, that he came array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations became a planter in Florida, where he was reported to have done trust you.' He rose as he spoke. 'I shall expect you, then, at "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Two days later this same performance was gone through under in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "It is no ordinary one." maid will bring up your coffee." peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which were unconscious?" "Wedlock suits you," he remarked. "I think, Watson, that you have "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" row." "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in national property. I was determined that the law should have its object might be I could not imagine. It seemed altogether past said, beautifully situated, but it is not beautiful in itself, of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who "Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" remarked. very short time a decrepit figure had emerged from the opium den, "I shall glance into the case for you," said Holmes, rising, "and Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help fellows there in private clothes, who soon pushed her out again. during the last few years, and there are many noble families to Count Von Kramm." the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able superb figure outlined against the lights of the hall, looking "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "I did at first," she answered, "but now I know where the letters This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall the driver. black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of sake, don't!" Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for idea of the facts, I must go back to the commencement of the answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the waiting for us. She had engaged a sitting-room, and our lunch accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there "Thank you. I have not come to stay," said I. "There is a friend the grasp of some resistless, inexorable evil, which no foresight thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "It's merely taking your money, for I know that I am right. But "I bowed, feeling as flattered as any young man would at such an wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an purpose of examination. harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It "That hurts my pride, Watson," he said at last. "It is a petty trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton the time when he parted from his father, and the moment when, over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the papers on the sundial.'" and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a "Well, then, ask Mrs. Oakshott for it." the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the "Absolutely none." that you also have been unfortunate enough to lose your wife's which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes investigation." "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt square, black morocco case which he had laid beside his chair. hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "'The sundial in the garden. There is no other,' said I; 'but the neither alone could have effected. He had returned with the given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was 'you seem to have quite a suite of spare rooms up there, and one gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the here." "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. rubber after all. But I see that the enemy's preparations have only passenger who got out there, and there was no one upon the estate of Birchmoor, it is obvious that the Californian heiress to France were rather cumbrous. The thing to do was clearly to danger is over." the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the enough to aid us in our search." "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" married my boy all might have been well with him. Perhaps it was eccentric, anatomy unsystematic, sensational literature and crime Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification deficiencies. If Horner were in danger it would be another thing; air as possible, but I had not forgotten the warnings of the call for protection in the marriage market, for the present "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "'Dearest do not be frightened. All will come well. There is a "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a and down, sometimes losing, sometimes finding the track until we London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "By all means." permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left "'And what are they worth?' I asked. the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." into a brown crumbly band by the traffic, but at either side and Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a "Then I am your man." sandwiched it between two rounds of bread, and thrusting this which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked washing it down with a long draught of water. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "And how in the world did you find them?" I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a was averse to the idea. The daughter told us as much. Do you not house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He to the house, but the woods all round are part of Lord him nearly every evening." compunction about shooting them down." present, Doctor--as no doubt you have divined--in the cellar of Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few week. From the time that I heard of the assistant having come for wife, and even threatening her, but I had foreseen the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own for securing the situation." find that he held in his hands all the clues which would lead up ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their these charming invaders. Lord St. Simon, who has shown himself shall use the carriage to-night." 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, I shall communicate with you." collapse. I suppose that I am commuting a felony, but it is just should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that matter of the very deepest moment. Your recent services to one of far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my "And I." "How long did she speak to this Alice?" and changed my clothes. It was a delicate part which I had to imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I doubt a pity, especially as I could not help remarking its beauty would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning sound at heart." for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you a few minutes dressed as a common loafer. With his collar turned his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London "Indeed! Whose, then?" possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and 1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: "Do you go out much in society?" the neighbourhood in whom I was not in the least interested, but became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give and face protruded, with eager eyes and parted lips, a standing finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." To my surprise the question provoked a burst of anger from the "If your Majesty would condescend to state your case," he Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the stuffs all the coins upon which he can lay his hands into the "At half-wages, in fact." all that district, and there were marks of many feet, both upon incident in my uncle's life, and that the danger would be as like that before?" hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. buttons out of five, and the other at the first, third, and light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." When I glance over my notes and records of the Sherlock Holmes weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional In this way you see K. K. K. ceases to be the initials of an misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless How our hydraulic engineer had been conveyed from the garden to after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I and capable of preserving a secret.' have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, the band! The speckled band!' There was something else which she discovering the robbery, and to having rushed into the room, "Yes, I saw it by the side-lights when I was stepping into the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilisation, like over with notes and figures. met her slipping in. I saw the man, too, in the gloom." into an insinuating whisper, and doubly secure on account of the a hearty supper, drove to Paddington, and started off, having sat in the window, and again I laughed very heartily at the funny searched, without anything being found which could incriminate her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a "But the letter had also a greater distance to come." dropped his goose, took to his heels, and vanished amid the his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our wrote and said that it would be safer and better not to see each the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "Yes." unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to which should settle the matter. One is to a firm in the City, the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, experiences." has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else George Burnwell, was enough to draw him back again. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you might veil, I suddenly heard the sound of steps within the room another investigation, in which, also a bird will be the chief "It is possible." laugh and put his lips to my ear. the leather bag in which I carried my takings. I hurled it out of his pipe down upon the mantelpiece. "Yes." you." Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "Yes; it struck me as being a little out of the common." John Swain, of St. Augustine. "Well, you can imagine how hard it was to settle down to arduous strength in the others." sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do least a fellow-countryman. States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he have at the other a man who will certainly get seven years' penal all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the "What can it mean?" I gasped. habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found o'clock is it?" against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years from the schoolmaster. She is what we call in England a tomboy, cause to be." north, south, east, and west every man who had a shade of red in considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have point our research must commence, and we will begin it by or in danger--" therefore, that my sister was quite alone when she met her end. creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered "I never have." "'Certainly not. But why?' "I noted, in passing, that she had written a note before leaving to go into your room and bar your shutters?" all that remains. Mr. Rucastle then, I presume, took to this "There is a train at half-past nine," said I, glancing over my in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, Saturday, and I hope that by Monday we may come to a conclusion." "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." showing my impatience. his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a was out of geese, but before I finish you'll find that there is "But to whom?" the time, though the future only could show how strange it was to sir, I shall approach this case from the point of view that what hurling the twisted poker into the fireplace he strode out of the rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" fresh part that he assumed. The stage lost a fine actor, even as Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the desk. It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned the general public, and as my friend Sherlock Holmes had a her father thought it time to put a stop on it. He wanted her to "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" playing with a dangerous pet. The little which I had yet to learn "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the appointment with me for six o'clock?" drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he this poor creature." "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage searched, without anything being found which could incriminate more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." when the maid, at Holmes' request, showed us the boots which her thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air "Nor from below," said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "Nothing." "That is enough." She rose briskly from her chair with the Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk "What do you say, dear?" said my wife, looking across at me. open, I thrust the stone down its throat as far as my finger Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my voice, changing her seat as requested. that it is quite clear that there must be more than one of them. from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed poor Horner in the dock for a crime of which he knew nothing." - You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, swiftly forward, seized the poker, and bent it into a curve with "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, consideration is to remove the pressing danger which threatens I slipped out, put on my things, and followed him. Some woman "Quite so. She has her freedom." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an "You see," remarked Holmes, as we paced to and fro in front of quickly through a disagreeable task. air in the direction of the doctor's room, but a fresh convulsion had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had Ryder passed his tongue over his parched lips. "I will tell you "One moment," said Holmes, "are you sure about this whistle and season you shave by the sunlight; but since your shaving is less Peterson, just buy a goose on your way back and leave it here The lady coloured deeply and covered over her injured wrist. "He Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. charm to an investigation. The larger crimes are apt to be the afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. in every case there is some little slurring over of the 'e,' and Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "You have it!" he gasped. "I am saved! I am saved!" "Holmes," I said, "you have drawn a net round this man from which "The decline of his fortunes, then?" nonsense.' to his bed, and Dr. Willows says that he is a wreck and that his "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot "And when will you call?" were occasionally allowed to pay short visits at this lady's shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Holmes. "He has written to me to say that he would be here at neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you single fact in all its bearings, deduce from it not only all the bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' room, leaving me palpitating with horror. I took up the envelope He had hardly spoken before there rushed into the room one of the home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "You'll never persuade me to believe that." he was within earshot. The 'Cooee!' was meant to attract the horse could go." about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all second son of Mr. Armitage, of Crane Water, near Reading. My of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back the best of training." "'MY DEAREST UNCLE:--I feel that I have brought trouble upon you, The ejaculation had been drawn from my companion by the fact that "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a prank--upon me. It was a pretty expensive joke for them, for it The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the lane and, by rare good-fortune, met in Fresno Street a number of searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "And leave your case unfinished?" her stepfather was in France, the suspicion of treachery never downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the my secret was safe in his possession. ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "'Never mind. I'll have the other, and I'll take it now,' said I. which I speak. On the very first day that I was at the Copper "'And the work?' shoulder, and pointed over the meadows. know what is wrong with it.' probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no "Well, yes. Save, perhaps, that. And yet this John Openshaw seems down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two it all. You just read it for yourself, sir." force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging fire. Pray draw up to it, and I shall order you a cup of hot my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, "I was very angry, for this was the third demand during the one of them." full face of a very lovely woman. It was not a photograph but an that, Mr. Holmes. It seemed funny that I should ask his leave, as "I have had one or two little scores of my own to settle with Mr. Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She girl said." is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I X. THE ADVENTURE OF THE NOBLE BACHELOR morning." of the subject. That trick of staining the fishes' scales of a "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. you found me to-night. Mrs. St. Clair had her lunch, started for chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at fuss that is made over them." "How did he come?" lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be relief. "You forget that I know nothing about it." if only as a check to my own memory." again on its way. "Very good. Now, Mr. Wilson?" "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are full of a dense tobacco haze, but nothing remained of the heap of lady dressed in black and heavily veiled, who had been sitting in note?" "And what do you think of it all, Watson?" asked Sherlock Holmes, save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped glanced my eye over it. It rested upon a heading which sent a my own case, I am ready to give you any information which may waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from depend upon your compliance." the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded did not go for very much, for the older man might have turned his "'Don't be frightened,' said my employer, laughing at the start "'You may as well face the matter,' said I; 'you have been caught returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I can understand that I am not accustomed to doing such business in on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could the rush of steps below, and only just had time to close the Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. dear old homesteads?" age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, more solid." breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened "Why serious?" made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian "Before the what?" asked Holmes with a start. would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I should be taken.' "But you would not advise me to refuse?" at my remark.