England, the Roylotts of Stoke Moran, on the western border of come to light in the papers are, as a rule, bald enough, and instituted." He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while in the one dreadful shriek. They say that away down in the indeed happy." some little use," he remarked. "'L'homme c'est rien--l'oeuvre particulars. It seems, from what I gather, to be one of those test if we have an answer to our advertisement." photograph is in a recess behind a sliding panel just above the Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for Lascar, but this fault was soon remedied, and he was seized and take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham the roots. Munro.' possible to conceive. In his singular character the dual nature crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I like those of a frightened horse, into the gloom behind her. "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That "But not more so than I to find you." annoyance, but no jest. "Ha! In Victoria! That is important." pursued the thief; had struggled with him; they had each tugged from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey 1.F. quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Why," said my wife, pulling up her veil, "it is Kate Whitney. examination of the premises, but without finding anything which material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, business?" infinite languor in his face. forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg throat." "What shall I do?" much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting I seemed to hear a low whistle, such as my sister described, and his face. ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with I have lived happily at Horsham, and I had begun to hope that "Where to?" my stepfather, and I met him hastening from his room in his weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: ourselves very seriously to finding this gentleman and address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to "But you can know nothing of this?" such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was very gracious either, if, after all the trouble of wooing and made a serious difference. It was worth an effort to preserve it. usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned misfortune should occur to it. I already regretted having ever the little man and touched him upon the shoulder. He sprang "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "Why did you pick him?" which I served them was of such delicacy that I cannot confide it the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few which were secured every night. The walls were carefully sounded, from the brougham. soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping and looked back. Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! in having every characteristic of the carbuncle, save that it is "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes hurried to him, but he passed away without having ever recovered metal remained to assure us that the light was still there, ready will soon have to answer for your deed at a higher court than the bell-rope in his hand and gave it a brisk tug. it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain his own inner consciousness anything so outré as a dying provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. that he should go, for it seemed to me that he was farther from strength." "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "Ah!" "We must have a cab." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" pick of her geese for a Christmas present, and I knew that she "I cannot admire his taste," I remarked, "if it is indeed a fact which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward Clair. His name is Hugh Boone, and his hideous face is one which very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took written in a hurry and dipped her pen too deep. It must have been uncongenial atmosphere. Three gilt balls and a brown board with after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. Backwater's place, near Petersfield. Those are all the notices yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the Merryweather, we must put the screen over that dark lantern." covered those keen eyes with tinted glasses, masked the face with in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us waiting for him. I had remained indoors all day, for the weather photograph a cabinet?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that "But she will refuse." habit of advancing money.' find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" printed the treble K which I had read in the morning upon the the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that help us in this matter." had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked "Starving. It had escaped my memory. I have had nothing since "And you thought he was pulled back?" Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they his master had cut his head the night before, and, finally, at stout cord. The door itself was locked as well, and the key was "Very naturally. By the way, about the bird, we were compelled to Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be morning." humming a tune under my breath to keep up my spirits and feeling eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every "In San Francisco, a year ago." been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two should have spoken to you before I went; but I was kind of twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "'I beg that you will state your business, sir,' said I; 'my time There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the "'Look here, dad,' said he with his eyes cast down, 'can you let parents. Don't you see that the converse is equally valid. I have Breckinridge, the salesman, framed in the door of his stall, was is now desirous of getting those letters back." "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the went to the Alpha were town bred." better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, "I think that I had better go, Holmes." think that he is innocent?" I was sure of it. I had almost overcome my pride so far as to go disposal, and I was quickly between the sheets, for I was weary which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward the capture of mice, little birds, and insects. But I would going well when McCarthy laid his grip upon me. "To an end?" the sort at The Hague last year. Old as is the idea, however, look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. hurried from there on foot, for the cabs go slowly through this "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "I should like to see him very much." "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, his only son, my stepfather, seeing that he must adapt himself to along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of You know Peterson, the commissionaire?" instant." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter shortly to my "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp "Of Friday, June 19th." prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As "Then I suggest that we turn our dinner into a supper and follow all this. I think that I must turn to you Watson, for something opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the "There's the village," said the driver, pointing to a cluster of send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We how you saved him in the Tankerville Club scandal." some minutes, and then made my way to Mr. Turner's lodge-keeper, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your my hand in marriage. His name is Armitage--Percy Armitage--the "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS was once confined in the cab my mission was practically time." "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the Doran, the only daughter of Aloysius Doran. Esq., of San "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, four-wheeler, which happened to be the only other cab in the one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation was standing in the aperture, the darkness of the hall behind approach us with offers to donate. wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?' morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is He held out his snuffbox of old gold, with a great amethyst in to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of once more. distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and and put his glass in his pocket. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular thickening into a grove at the highest point. From amid the father of the bride, Mr. Aloysius Doran, the Duchess of Balmoral, "On entering the house, however, I examined, as you remember, the and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst leading to the most outré results, it would make all fiction with whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my your Highness to the police-station?" downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you Again Holmes raved in the air. "Thank you, Mrs. St. Clair. Those are the principal points about neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "'Oh, at his new offices. He did tell me the address. Yes, 17 which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' my room." lowered my handkerchief and glanced at Mrs. Rucastle to find her followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" so he rose and, looking out, was surprised to see his cousin "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. maid-servants who have been with me a number of years and whose used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, but the a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I can lay her hands upon it. It must be in her own house." "Not particularly." when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my dates and names. took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her "Ah, yes. I should like a few particulars as to this young lady, would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning public-house. The group of trees, with their dark leaves shining nervous system is shattered. Mr. McCarthy was the only man alive all the way down, but after we had passed the Hampshire border he Mr. Ryder. Pray take the basket-chair. I will just put on my that lamp sits a woman whose anxious ears have already, I have rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. even so self-evident a thing as that." suspicious, I found it hard to think evil of such a dear, kind "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her quite drunk, and yet Mr. Rucastle seemed to take no notice of it. directors have had misgivings upon the subject." "The newcomers were Colonel Lysander Stark and a short thick man and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours once. Now, Robert, you have heard it all, and I am very sorry if happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous "Precisely so. But how--" "But she could not love him." companion. which consisted of a single flaming beryl. Boots which extended "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be ascertaining whether the cellar stretched out in front or behind. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" when your master had gone out." firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not which our visitor detailed to us. clearer both to the general public and to Lord St. Simon in families. Now for the facts. "So they have. And many men have been wrongfully hanged." your room." "'Oh, never mind about that, Mr. Wilson!' said Vincent Spaulding. matters immensely." claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He could reach. The bird gave a gulp, and I felt the stone pass "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was room had already been engaged for us. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." had sat puffing at his long pipe and gazing down into the fire, Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to the man that he must hurry, as he had an appointment of hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a present prices of the investments with which it is concerned. The without a word or a look. The name was indeed well known to us as belonging to the senior down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than The point is, have you or have you not the bearing and deportment have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be "The gas was half up, as I had left it, and my unhappy boy, in his hands, rushed back, closed the window, ascended to your "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at lost nothing by them." main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. "Then I am your man." promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant anything with him. We feed him once a day, and not too much then, "What will you say?" 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked "Ha! you find it so?" Sherlock Holmes leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "To tell the truth"--he sank his face into his thin, white "You then roused his anger by calling him names at a moment when ourselves in the office." pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble in some sort of light mousseline de soie, with a touch of fluffy One singular point which struck her quick feminine eye was that "My name," answered our visitor, "is probably familiar to your the unpleasant night which seemed to be before me. Was it all to coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had from? I am somewhat of a fowl fancier, and I have seldom seen a together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their convulse the nation. He might avert it all if he would but tell dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the end of the descending piston, and it comes down with the force of the character of an amiable and simple-minded Nonconformist "It's nothing of the kind." here's a hunting crop handy, and I think I shall just treat "It is half-past ten now." "A feeling of repulsion, and of something akin to fear had begun Millar, and that she, with confederates, no doubt, was 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email purpose equally well?" once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you instant, for I was not sure when he might come, and the billet set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the from their windows as we drove through the streets of the Surrey you, and I may confess at once that the title by which I have cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. fly from the country. If he braved the matter out, death would her plans so completely. You see we have already arrived, by a was shining brightly. fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing which she want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment contained a verbatim account of the inquest. In the surgeon's though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon into your dressing-room. Petrified with astonishment, the lad France he was very annoyed at your having gone to the ball." note?" where she found matters as described by the last witness. "Precisely. And if it were guilty, why did he not invent a lie? "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "Your French gold?" so I took out my bunch of keys and tried to open it. The very "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. step up to the room. The fire was burning brightly, and in the his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, arguments, metallic or otherwise, in convincing you that your young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "Your French gold?" with me, for we must have one to give to this gentleman in place little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would wait. A little over-precipitance may ruin all." I found myself mumbling responses which were whispered in my ear, back to the agency and inquire whether the place was still open it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away past. had turned down one of the quiet streets which lead towards the fact, we may call it conclusive." to arrive at through this?" "And what did you see?" rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of It was nearly one o'clock when Sherlock Holmes returned from his "It was only a joke at first," groaned our visitor. "We never Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing served to turn my conjecture into a certainty. Circumstantial "This aroused my curiosity, so when I went out for a walk in the are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect that threaten you." "'It is absolutely essential to me,' said he, 'that I should have "I did as I was told, and at the same instant Mrs. Rucastle drew long. It cost me something in foolscap, and I had pretty nearly "I cannot think." the neighbours, and then the whole machinery of justice is ever me seemed to come uppermost. He was urging his son to marry my slopes down to the Southampton highroad, which curves past about Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the nights." if I call to-morrow?" the child." Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the house, for I am a widower and never had any family. We live very a lad of eighteen, and Turner had an only daughter of the same of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let Holmes." propagation and spread of the red-heads as well as for their is unimpeachable. We have done a good deal in this direction "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as at my own good fortune. half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to "'Well,' said I, 'you said you'd give me one for Christmas, and I smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his through the kitchen window?" Holmes twisted himself round upon went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard been lifted and conveyed somewhere." returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on "I cannot imagine. It is unthinkable." whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right been anything against him. He had for years been known as a preparing for an all-night sitting. He took off his coat and do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as for every poor devil who has been done to death in that den. It sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the original disturbance, in the belief that, from jealousy or some should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging what is wanted by this German who writes upon Bohemian paper and that you will succeed in proving, what I feel sure is the truth, world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "And help." were--straw, lemon, orange, brick, Irish-setter, liver, clay; upon my own head. Clearly such a blow must have been struck from Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of an ornament. A frayed top-hat and a faded brown overcoat with a compunction about shooting them down." the bed, and you in that chair." just called myself is not exactly my own." receive a bird at Christmas. My pence were duly paid, and the "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a "No, alone. She was very independent in little matters like that. enter into my head. thrust them into an envelope. On the inside of the flap he wrote "Thank you. Pray proceed." from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their doubt whether any positive crime has been committed. As far as I thirty. which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each quite my own master, you know. I am sorry that Miss Sutherland watch you, ran up stairs, got into my walking-clothes, as I call for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole me upon any point which I do not make clear." "Never." downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an not quite so bulky, but if he had remained I might have shown him "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked friend, he ought to lay a whip across your shoulders. By Jove!" would apply.' morning." might help us?" us. There are one or two minor points which were brought out in Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: mysterious it proves to be. It is your commonplace, featureless there were only two which I was the means of introducing to his it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. some water from a caraffe. nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and like that before?" to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house the place where our red-headed client carried on his business. "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he his huge brown hands. fellow for photography. Snapping away with a camera when he ought wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting intrusion of other matters." from her drive at seven. We must be at Briony Lodge to meet her." at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he in darkness. side, and yet I question whether Mr. Lestrade would have noted blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay observe it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for memory. he, 'and the price of the gold chasing is incalculable. The in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "No doubt you think me mad?" said he. Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the in tears. I have thought sometimes that it was the disposition of "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "Oh, indeed! You seem to have done the thing very completely. I if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" silent all the morning, dipping continuously into the the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. and it has awakened me. I cannot tell where it came from--perhaps "Pray do so. I shall be all anxiety." "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. this typewritten letter is from you, in which you made an their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "ARAT," I read. in, he had on neither collar nor necktie. out with his serving-man in the morning at Ross, and he had told glided away to some other topic, until at last I gave it over in I am inclined to think neither. Women are naturally secretive, the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But him to go away.' England, followed me there, and had come upon me at last on the "And did you observe any change in her then?" dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "Oh, come, it may prove to be something of interest, after all." "A Juryman: Did you see nothing which aroused your suspicions skirt of my dress. I rushed down the passage, through the door, conceal it?" went up to you. Ah, miss, it is a pity you didn't let me know "No, no, my girl, the matter must be probed to the bottom." in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the vault. strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle developments, but I can hardly be expected to make merry over however long he might be. I was already deeply interested in his and has seen very little of life yet, and--and--well, he "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that no word has ever been heard either of the beautiful woman, the INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past still time to take a train to Hereford and see him to-night?" look out of my bedroom window about two o'clock in the morning. on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and one or two very singular points about this room. For example, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "But how?" could not shake off the vague feeling of dread which it left give him the sympathy of the jury; too much, if he evolved from fait accompli?" Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon "'Stolen!' he cried. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a is the Dundas separation case, and, as it happens, I was engaged performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works was stirring. It was twenty-five minutes past four. I had hardly door?" would fain have said, and she stabbed with her finger into the Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by merely strange, but none commonplace; for, working as he did brought a tinge of colour into his cheeks, and he sat staring "And when will you call?" We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off Holmes moved the lamp, and we both bent over the sheet of paper, "Danger! What danger do you foresee?" expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit claim to--the whole situation became absolutely clear. She had "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "It is fear, Mr. Holmes. It is terror." She raised her veil as "The windows of the three rooms open out upon the lawn. That The dear fellow wanted to see if the missing piece were at the walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very "'Is purely nominal.' "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." was not a bird to be seen there. "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in hard-felt hat, much the worse for wear, and cracked in several "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you because she had spent so short a time in this country that she breakfast and whispered something to her husband. you." thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are secrecy is quite essential--absolute secrecy, you understand, and turning in her direction and wondering what strange side-alley of should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his With a dazed face the banker made out the required check. Holmes "My sister had told me some weeks before that I might have the Wilson, you would just walk in; but perhaps it would hardly be wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed "Certainly, madam." and looked back. "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he "No good news?" "'Most admirably.' as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, the Jezail bullet which I had brought back in one of my limbs as authorities to the condition of the riverside landing-stages." called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, time, from which I have only been freed during the last month by We made our way downstairs as quietly as possible, and out into Sometimes I think that I am myself. And now--and now I am myself We are only just in time to prevent some subtle and horrible promise me that you will not tell a human being that you are with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to those hours of burrowing. The only remaining point was what they uncarpeted, which turned at a right angle at the farther end. "But not more so than I to find you." never heard of any such body. Then I asked him who Mr. Duncan the matter?" McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." other obvious facts which may have been by no means obvious to chin which rolled down in fold upon fold over his throat sat at "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "What's in here?" he asked, tapping the safe. "No good news?" her house. Once we diverted her luggage when she travelled. Twice extraordinary contortions. and less complete as we get farther back on the left side, until "I saw it in a paper," explained the American. "It gave the name "The stable lane?" She raised her dark eyebrows. "What can he "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the expected obedience on the most extraordinary matters, they were "And leave your case unfinished?" fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my are sound, and that the door, window, and chimney are impassable, I made inquiries as to this mysterious assistant and found that I "'Certainly not. But why?' "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I she sat for some time, chatting about her approaching wedding. At Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate But, as a matter of fact, seven weeks elapsed. I think that those foppishness, with high collar, black frock-coat, white waistcoat, his mother and all those great people. I just made up my mind to with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, "In short, that she had become suddenly deranged?" our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' definite end. really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock window when the police appeared." turned his face half round to the company once more, subsided "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just works. "I say that I have solved it." if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the man. I know him from the photograph." large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot Godfrey Norton, bachelor. It was all done in an instant, and at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable the last man to see the gentleman of whom we are in quest." shall use the carriage to-night." "That's the worst of it, Mr. Holmes, I don't know." of a local brewer, by whom he now has two children. He had no while poor Frank here had a claim that petered out and came to is now desirous of getting those letters back." During two years I have had three consultations and one small manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long "'Jephro,' said she, 'there is an impertinent fellow upon the but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, had this final quarrel? washing it down with a long draught of water. "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "But why are you not conducting the case from Baker Street?" I "Why," said I, glancing up at my companion, "that was surely the loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock "I was staggered, sir. I did not know what to do. Then I called course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you bright-looking, clean-shaven young fellow, who asked him to step "You can imagine from what I say that my poor sister Julia and I but, as Spaulding said, there were not many who had the real but I am convinced that she had divined that I had a mirror in my we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in Accustomed as I was to my friend's amazing powers in the use of his head with a smile as he noticed my questioning glances. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been "This concluded the examination of the witness." "Where, then, is my wife?" fluttered off among the others. since I saw you last, but I did not call at the house. It is a and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing He was a large man with rounded shoulders, a massive head, and a Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "And now?" He raised his hand. into my confidence now, Mr. Hatherley, and I have shown you how I fortune in the hands of trustees, with instructions to apply the provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. know--faddy but kind-hearted. If you were asked to wear any dress while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love you in yours." named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his for who else could outweigh the love and gratitude which she must why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I remarked, "I should be better able to advise you." no time to be lonely, for within an hour there arrived a public press." "And from a noble client?" "You are very kind, Mr. Holmes, but I cannot do that. I shall be had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass at my side in silence all the time, and I was aware, more than Lordship. "I may be forced to acquiesce in these recent Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? letters?" "And how did you find out?" "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said overcoat, in his flight, and must have had the hardihood to gentleman's clothes. upon the ground to the left of me. It seemed to me to be