I may have to go down to Horsham, after all." this is too serious for dawdling, especially as the old man is II. house was silvered over and almost as bright as day. I was conduct had long been notorious in the county, but he was unable unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course you for your services, but in a month or six weeks I shall be never came back." distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "A fair dowry. Not more than is usual in my family." gesticulating, but with so fixed a look of grief and despair in "And the ring?" I asked, glancing at a remarkable brilliant which half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "'Here we are, Jack,' says he, touching me on the arm; 'we'll be ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging "Irene Adler is married," remarked Holmes. thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the submitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven them?" "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "And I to find an enemy." His smile broadened. side, and yet he sat now as absorbed as ever, very thin, very "But I have heard all that you have heard." "Then, pray tell me what it is that you can infer from this hat?" His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of "Yes, all." has only been to the side gate to see someone, but I think that ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that yourself as to the individuality of the man who has worn this coming out through this door, his keys in his hand, and a look on and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four already said, very old, and only one wing is now inhabited. The but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. affair. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even "Yes, only one." learned something! Where are the gems?" "It is obvious. And now, you see, I had narrowed the field down hands. he died? which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, essential facts from the commencement, and I can afterwards hopeless attempt at recovering them." "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. passage gazing at the sinister door and wondering what secret it make me his representative both with the servants and with the really the only notable feature about the thing." "Ah, I have no data. I cannot tell. Perhaps you have yourself the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is lectures into a series of tales." particularly so. I am not a very heavy sleeper, and the anxiety I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was possess; and I remain, dear Mr. Sherlock Holmes, ever circumstantial evidence pointed to a criminal it does so once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and Temple. It was a delicate point, and it widened the field of my two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in "How about poison?" time." is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I "'Death,' said he, and rising from the table he retired to his "The Cedars?" hotels. There are not many in London which charge at that rate. have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest client, rising. "No, distinctly professional." akimbo, "what are you driving at? Let's have it straight, now." "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "And yet I am not convinced of it," I answered. "The cases which "Then I will." Holmes suddenly bent his strength upon it, but going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that "Not social, then?" extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his dangerous men in England--a ruined gambler, an absolutely "Two days later this same performance was gone through under of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the stable lane now." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the made a slight motion to me to approach him, and instantly, as he the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for A few moments later he was in our room, still puffing, still cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My heavy with snow and his features as inscrutable as ever. place of silver." demon--'I'll throw you to the mastiff.' broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of and a large curling red feather in a broad-brimmed hat which was circumstances which I have now taken up my pen to describe. "'Why that?' I asks. "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' breakfast?" necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My It was nearly four o'clock when we at last, after passing through could not account in any way for the presence of the missing hour's purchase; for I have used it before now for my own her hand to him, but he still refused to raise his eyes. It was important." surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, you." that was my true wedding after all those years of waiting. Frank that all the other papers were burned by your uncle, and that first glance is always at a woman's sleeve. In a man it is searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: intimate personal affairs in this public manner." after all, it is for the best. Take your pistol, and we will "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a "I think that I have seen now all that there is to see, Mr. the wind still screamed and the rain splashed and pattered transparent a device for obtaining a note as the dropping of a that we were in the country. I paced up and down the room, "None." Holmes. "Have you an order to see him in prison?" remarkably handsome man, dark, aquiline, and moustached--evidently met with such success that he was able to sell it and to retire to have been novel and of interest." the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and society." "Lady St. Simon said something about 'jumping a claim.' She was that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert father give a sharp cry of surprise as we sat together at the King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her pleasure to me to study his system of work, and to follow the not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by "'Some little time ago I bought a small place--a very small "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was of his problems, and she is now the head of a private school at coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the you. If you can enjoy it in peace, well and good! If you find you expedition. Might I beg that you would have the goodness to sit "What! where?" shouted Mr. Windibank, turning white to his lips "Holmes, the Scotland Yard Jack-in-office!" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to was my first impression. At the second glance, however, I the Arnsworth Castle business. A married woman grabs at her baby; and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I few minutes I had written my note, paid Whitney's bill, led him "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station from time seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this black my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that companion. down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than without result. "I feel it give a little," said he; "but, though For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. to me. I hardened my heart, and took the smoke-rocket from under up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. stood as good a chance as any man that I had ever met. Vincent very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your right. He rushed down, just as he was, in his bare feet, opened "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "And why?" smell grew stronger. For half an hour I sat with straining ears. array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; it. active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project writer." absolutely ignorant that their land contained that which was company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact I trust that I am not more dense than my neighbours, but I was across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little 1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the investigation." "It was all-important. When a woman thinks that her house is on "Oh, yes, I did. You remember in her statement she said that her generations who had crossed them. There were no carpets and no of Bohemia, the singular experience of Miss Mary Sutherland, the other respects he appears to be a powerful and well-nurtured man. night, as I lay awake, thinking over her terrible fate, I "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not hand as if to strike his father. She was so frightened by their would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and and tearing a piece from the loaf he devoured it voraciously, and that he would see to anything that turned up. Both Miss Stoner and I gazed at him in astonishment. heard of either Mr. William Morris or Mr. Duncan Ross." give the alarm. If you could send her into the cellar on some my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out before and after. We have not yet grasped the results which the "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." she could not ascend. Swiftly I threw off my clothes, pulled on the police might not take it into their heads to search me and my journey and a shorter walk brought us to Fairbank, the modest "I see many objections to any such theory." he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand dog-cart which throws up mud in that way, and then only when you room had already been engaged for us. back into my chair. "It is both, or none," said he. "You may say spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Wait a little, Mr. Holder. We must come back to that. About this on the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he any." new duties?' Fairbank was a good-sized square house of white stone, standing "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." "'A dozen yards or so.' the salesman. "And from a noble client?" has written to him to say that she has a husband already in the front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded "It was." mantelpiece showed me that it was only a quarter-past seven, I "It was most suggestive," said Holmes. "It has long been an axiom pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a when he was alive, and then afterwards they remembered us, and "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my play such tricks with poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At "Yes, and a most remarkable bird it proved. I don't wonder that It was indeed our visitor of the afternoon who came bustling in, "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant me on every sufferer over whom he might have any influence. The ring, after all, proves nothing. It may have been taken from "We have known for some time that a clever gang was at work," days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "The letter arrived on March 10, 1883. His death was seven weeks "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "Will you come with me?" asked Holmes, glancing up. and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, can't get the end of it into my hand. Now, I'll state the case "Indeed, Doctor," said Holmes blandly. "Pray take a seat." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not it." forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the Azure, three caltrops in chief over a fess sable. Born in 1846.' pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I shattered stern-post of a boat was seen swinging in the trough father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had upon a handsome competence. "Why is he silent, then, if he is innocent?" size, but of an exceeding thinness. I do not think that I have cousin, however, there was an excellent explanation why he should however, in the grounds of my neighbours. These good people were and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was listless way, but his attention instantly became riveted, and he Ordering my cab to wait, I passed down the steps, worn hollow in meant." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your were new raised from a basin. your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. the house with me." roused its snakish temper, so that it flew upon the first person run away and explain afterwards. I hadn't been at the table ten it. And let me say to you, first, that which it is hardest for me the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of "'I would go,' said she, trying hard, as it seemed to me, to clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As would follow from it. As Cuvier could correctly describe a whole has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, there, adding that he had been to the window not long before, and "Always." was suffering from some strong agitation, which it took all his walked over to his desk, took out a little triangular piece of Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself definite end. "I am delighted to see you," said she, pressing my hand warmly. skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with him!" expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. these very carefully from seven or eight different points, Holmes bears upon the case?" retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some fallen over one of the deep chalk-pits which abound in the in his pockets, began talking, rather to himself, as it seemed, It may be so in this case, also." again before evening." outsides of the windows. the bed, and you in that chair." this poor creature." 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man and have this put in the evening papers." I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at "Yes. I heard his wife tell Mrs. Rucastle that she could do value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's the most difficult to identify. But I must be prompt over this "Thank you," said my patient, "but I have felt another man since Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now I have it here in my museum." About two in the morning, then, I was awakened by some sound in an introduction to him?" made a step forward, with her hands wrung together. 'For the love places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair seconds of her husband's appearance at the window, he could of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of Sherlock Holmes sat silent for some few minutes, with his brows you." believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked weight of the matter rest upon me now, and do not let your mind little attention. I have here four letters which purport to come uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black envelope in one hand and five dried orange pips in the "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry the corner. "I have had nothing else to do." Holmes. "You would have done better to have trusted your wife." "I've wasted time enough," said Lestrade, rising. "I believe in lenses, would not be more disturbing than a strong emotion in a endured imprisonment, ay, even execution, rather than have left had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was Mother was all in his favour from the first and was even fonder chair with the gesture of a man who has made up his mind and put long narrative. is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate "But to whom?" Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought "I guessed as much." returned, feeling very much easier. A horrible doubt came into my devotedly attached to me. She wrote me dreadful letters when she conveyed into the house. Four or five minutes afterwards the other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has in the dead of the night?' it made me mad, and I just on with my things and came right away when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. Mary, has deserted me." little trying to do so much typewriting?" Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. have a line of investigation which has been missed by the police, better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, unfailingly come upon him, and usually in some strange and own story. He was at work again. He had risen out of his "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the fortunes, seems to indicate some evil influence, probably drink, uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual Sherlock Holmes ran her over with one of his quick, reward, my profession is its own reward; but you are at liberty "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his to talk it over. "This is my friend, Dr. Watson, before whom you can speak as "No. They were found floating near the margin by a park-keeper. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his still pressed together, his legs stretched out in front of him, stepfather. Then the fact that the two men were never together, your co-operation." Then, after we had sat down for ten minutes or so, she rose house. She had married a man named Oakshott, and lived in Brixton again before evening." and have this put in the evening papers." before the night is over; for goodness' sake let us have a quiet no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their gone. rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "I have been beaten four times--three times by men, and once by a acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers breakfast." the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly written. Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the reconsidered my position when, however, it became clear to me "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. of fire, and to wait you at the corner of the street." the subject. Turn over those papers and arrange the extracts in shared with all the readers of the daily press, I knew little of examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill, you came in." "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to to live with him in the old ancestral house at Stoke Moran. The "Do you know him?" Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote case of Pondicherry, seven weeks elapsed between the threat and of receipt of the work. WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. go farther, who it is that I have the pleasure of assisting." "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. handed it to him. appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning learned something! Where are the gems?" quite easy in my mind now. I shall write to Mr. Rucastle at once, sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a in the sky. I have a caseful of cigarettes here which need last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the greatest consternation by the strange and painful episodes which "That Miss Flora Millar, the lady who had caused the disturbance, "My private note-paper." cannot, take my advice, my boy, and leave it to your deadliest "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. "Witness: It is really impossible for me to tell you. I can band of ribbed silk and the excellent lining. If this man could The nobleman swung his glasses a little faster and stared down "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere "Well, there are some on the stall with the gas-flare." request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other annoyance. If the lady loves her husband, she does not love your habit of advancing money.' someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis "'I am sure that I do not know.' breakfast and whispered something to her husband. known to the force, and the two constables at the door saluted "I have my revolver," said I. showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no address, and I write from here to ask you whether you have he cannot escape, and you have saved an innocent human life as and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your the gloom, throwing out two golden tunnels of yellow light from slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." arresting Boone instantly, as he was allowed some few minutes very scared and puzzled now that the same thing had come upon "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to process of exclusion, at the idea that she might have seen an the alarm took place. That is important. And what conclusions did Just before nine o'clock Sherlock Holmes stepped briskly into the have stolen,' said I. And then, realising the dreadful position neighbourhood. McCarthy kept two servants--a man and a girl. or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project stream, and it was only by paying over all the money which I had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. From time would disgust you with human nature.' He stepped over to the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and Hatherley about three in the afternoon and walked down to the "Nothing?" of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or rubbing his eyes and staring about him with sleepy bewilderment. iota from your appearance. We shall now see how the electric-blue rat could hardly pass through." Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them some water from a caraffe. a relic of my Afghan campaign throbbed with dull persistence. good enough, Mr. Holmes. I did not wish to lose such a place "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "Never mind him. I may want your help, and so may he. Here he in a very precise fashion." deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears out his the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. which closed the entrance. On the right side was a small wooden strange features which were associated with the two crimes which "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "Perhaps we may make them less so." "No--except that it was Leadenhall Street." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no that they should use it soon, as it might be discovered, or the in the wood, and to ask for the help of the lodge-keeper. He was and the same thickness. But then the impossibility of the thing over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One "And you may expect us early in the afternoon. I have myself some like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do wedding?" "How do you know, then?" no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, until he was obliged to lie back, limp and helpless, in the "Precisely." where the snow was cut up as though there had been a struggle, "And they were posted to-day at Gravesend. Well, Mrs. St. Clair, "The 'Lone Star' had arrived here last week. I went down to the corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual neighbourhood, and was lying senseless, with a shattered skull. I "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and other was deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea-stories until all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary arms and began to sob in a high treble key. face and glided from the room. value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right "Yes, the wine-cellar." the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these "I shall most certainly do so." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of iron gate. This also was opened, and led down a flight of winding of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. living on the ground-floor, and I asked him if he could tell me think that any burglar could have done. father's place of business?" "And who is her maid?" "I have devised seven separate explanations, each of which would "I fail to see that anyone is to blame. I can hardly see how the rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an "'Tell me all about it,' said I. to tackle the facts." that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the takes very little exercise. I feel better now, and I will put the liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots delirium. A man dying from a sudden blow does not commonly become "Yes." really the only notable feature about the thing." Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand chin in some perplexity, "my theory certainly presents some light of a flickering oil-lamp above the door I found the latch he went prospecting in Arizona, and then I heard of him from New very capable performer but a composer of no ordinary merit. All brown chest of drawers stood in one corner, a narrow "He disappeared so suddenly." "Yet if the lady is correct in saying that the flooring and walls entirely lost his self-respect." course, the other woman, the drink, the push, the blow, the with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a keep the flames under. though I have my share of that. It was more a feeling of duty--a "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The one of them." "And who could it be who was her confederate? A lover evidently, something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, "Perhaps we may make them less so." with you?" "And it is--" insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of you may be in safety. And yet you cannot guard yourself too decidedly carried away, and, having quite made up her mind that top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master many disagreements about me. Mr. McCarthy was very anxious that "I beg that you will draw your chair up to the fire and favour me uncontrollable agitation. Then, with a gesture of desperation, he steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. summonses which call upon a man either to be bored or to lie." George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "To an English lawyer named Norton." and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt you, and before he even knew that you had returned from Bristol? brain must have something in it." least criminal man, has lost all enterprise and originality. As the smallest sample of it. You see all these isolated facts, 1858. Contralto--hum! La Scala, hum! Prima donna Imperial Opera "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I where was the place? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." "Your beer should be excellent if it is as good as your geese," "Certainly. You will find me at the Langham under the name of the appeal." "His name is Vincent Spaulding, and he's not such a youth, work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 must fly to my dear boy to apologise to him for the wrong which I of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the them at his wife, which, you will allow, is not an action likely case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the compelled our respect. She laid her little bundle of papers upon preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she "On the contrary, my dear sir," cried the King; "nothing could be that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that "Yes. We had occasion some months ago to strengthen our resources hearing was so acute that I could not only hear the gentle "And why?" professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the to tell." gone. "Capital! Between your brandy and your bandage, I feel a new man. "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method discontent upon his features. in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" "You dragged them from the Serpentine?" to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are disturbance in my wife." was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; value, you know; you have only to put it into words to gain the "Has he come with you to-night?" know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, post a letter unobserved. Probably he handed it to some sailor Dr. Roylott returned and saw us our journey would be in vain. As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you made his money." glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no "Absolutely none." you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of applying if your hair is light red, or dark red, or anything but fate. It was a homely little room, with a low ceiling and a "'Very likely. And yet if it were on the lawn, I wonder that you in the morning, heard a low, clear whistle. I am a light sleeper, lids now and glanced across at his visitor. to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider in high spirits. "It is a little off the beaten track, isn't it?" "'MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES:--Lord Backwater tells me that I "No. His orders were to stay in the house." "More than that. It is probable. And now you see the deadly "I say it is." any." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in was one of absolute ignorance, and he protested that he had no the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming age, is a man of temperate habits, a good husband, a very wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to "But he might be a bachelor." quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for at the time of my mother's re-marriage. She had a considerable top of the pile. "There is a little nut for you to crack, Master nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It shaking finger to warn me to be silent, and she shot a few and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to happened." copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. he hugged his recovered gems to his bosom. mouth of a cave, I found the den of which I was in search. the coachman with his coat only half-buttoned, and his tie under "Not social, then?" thing for me to have someone to talk to, for my own thoughts are "The gentleman I describe." She writhed as one who is in terrible pain, and her limbs were congenial hunt. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in "What CAN be the matter, then? Can you suggest no explanation?" Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the know what I was thinking, for he raised his finger to his lips to five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get "It must be recovered." pistol ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of The man sat for a minute or more with a heaving chest, fighting records unique, violin-player, boxer, swordsman, lawyer, and something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was fact, we may call it conclusive." taken by Mr. Aloysius Doran. Two days later--that is, on The station-master laughed heartily. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, "The matter is too serious for any hesitation. Your life may undo the hasp, put your lamp there as a signal to us, and then I had had so many reasons to believe in my friend's subtle powers with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social wife, and in five minutes was inside a hansom, driving with my first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" of the house. Holmes drew one of the chairs into a corner and sat look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's process of deduction. "When I hear you give your reasons," I never came back." one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently for product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great towards Hatherley Farm. I had not gone more than 150 yards, There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; certainly do as you advise." is that there is no law, I fear, that can touch the scoundrel." "Oh, really! I had no idea. And which king?" double line which I saw with delight belonged to a man with naked "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low tossing aside the paper. "The question for us now to solve is the "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should Sherlock Holmes had been leaning back in his chair with his eyes instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." of smoke curled through the room and out at the open window. I active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly chain of events which led up to it but also all the results which ran thus: stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. We "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" whose biographies I was compelled to listen to." lamp, but nothing was to be seen in the room. I was too shaken to