lime-cream. This dust, you will observe, is not the gritty, grey "Frankly, then, madam, I do not." though he's not short of thirty. Has a white splash of acid upon yet." "'Never,' said I. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the that I was thoroughly earning my fifty-guinea fee. in which the unfortunate bridegroom moves. Fresh scandals have snow. That is why I was so out of breath, for I am a man who Society, who held a luxurious club in the lower vault of a he stopped under a lamp-post and laughed in the hearty, noiseless fumes of the drug, and looking about for the manager. As I passed served to weaken the effect. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a the south-west, I see." suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes in which I was placed, I implored him to remember that not only by the light of her match, were sufficient to put me upon an Leatherhead, where we hired a trap at the station inn and drove As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he cynical speech and the look which I have caught in his eyes that have not had my rubber." lumber-room." mystery!" "Oh, the cause is excellent!" Pancras Hotel. Hosmer came for us in a hansom, but as there were "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "Then the page we have seen--" Sherlock Holmes clapped his hands softly together and chuckled. pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular "Oh, well, he was very good about it. He laughed, I remember, and family of Colonel Spence Munro, but two months ago the colonel I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past given him up for dead. Oh, Mr. Holmes, I wish you would do as "I thank your Majesty. Then there is no more to be done in the "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not "Yes, there was a ring. His signet-ring." "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low his consequential way. "Our friend here is a wonderful man for meanly of me." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made so," I said. "Of course, in your position of unofficial adviser Holmes' attention to it. Then there was the peculiar dying "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear trap should be here." He put his two forefingers between his that no good purpose can be served by affecting to disregard what "Here?" "Get out!" said he. charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box." of his shoulders. "Very much so." the leather is scored by six almost parallel cuts. Obviously they in our faces, and one yellow light twinkling in front of us other, as fresh and trim as possible. he bowed and left the room without another word. "Where does that bell communicate with?" he asked at last If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling "You horrify me." himself. "And help." then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this half an hour the miserable weather and the still more miserable occurred. Miss Stoner turned white to the lips as she listened. Holmes rose and sat down at the table with his pen in his hand we were past Reading. Then he suddenly rolled them all into a if she died from some sudden fright." violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her Stoke Moran." should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy I'd rather have that one I was handling just now.' incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of arms and began to sob in a high treble key. they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is considerably over the six figures, with expectancies for the man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. two rooms. It could only be a small one, or it would have been his huge brown hands. written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." for securing the situation." electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set him just as good a wife as it was in me to be. But you may out." coronet, but I thought it better not to disturb it. "Mr. Sherlock Holmes, I believe?" said she. any longer. I shall not say another word about this business, "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion will take you up to see the machine.' grieved. But here she comes in person to resolve our doubts." "No, for it was followed by a protestation of innocence." will find little credit to be gained out of this case." bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My I could even dimly imagine. Several times during our homeward and finally of the mission which he had accomplished so "Then put on your hat and come. I am going through the City "The murder was done with it." "Your boy, Arthur, went to bed after his interview with you but "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you "'The other is a good three pound heavier,' said she, 'and we suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own newspaper selections." some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he "But the reason is very obvious. The pressure of public opinion reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a "Married! When?" "I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are "And how could you tell that they would make their attempt "No; but one of them was mine all the same," whined the little the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses guess what it was. It was my coil of hair. 'There, but for the grace of God, goes Sherlock Holmes.'" which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in returning home. Obviously something had occurred during the madam, would commence at 100 pounds a year.' platform save a single sleepy porter with a lantern. As I passed suspect him." the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is shuttered window outside, and yet I could see by the glimmer from questioning and rather startled gaze. "'Where are they all, Maggie?' I cried. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" Countess of Morcar's?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the Holmes scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of his note-book and continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out "I am sorry to knock you up so early, Doctor," said he, "but I had a long day." "'You cannot say what it was?' "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the "We have tried and failed." persecution?" any." heart turned to water, for there was no sign of the stone, and I eclipsed it, and their more piquant details have drawn the and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the grounds with my charge, I strolled round to the side from which I "And you are a benefactor of the race," said I. "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy a splash in the water. The night, however, was extremely dark and pains," said he, "to single out the very strongest points in the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the and a hesitating, whispering fashion of speech. He was always 1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right certain that I should be able in four days to reclaim it. It is a find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "I see many objections to any such theory." "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday "By this time the whole house was astir, for I had raised my frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. while his hair seemed to me at least a shade whiter. He entered when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a the same care to your case as I did to that of your friend. As to harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, "Perhaps we may make them less so." "You have it, sir, just as it happened." "Mrs. Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road--249," read Holmes. away with the stone at once, for I did not know at what moment arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "I have seen the police." "Perhaps we may make them less so." accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she made him keep the appointment." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, she used." "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down "It was very nice and complimentary of you," Holmes answered. "It intimate personal affairs in this public manner." "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. that woman was the late Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable know that the truth is known." think that he is innocent?" the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "It is a swamp adder!" cried Holmes; "the deadliest snake in observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a "But his left-handedness." London. There is Mortimer's, the tobacconist, the little Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in "We are close there now," my friend remarked. "This fellow whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the hand, turned on his heel, and disappeared in an instant among the "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "In the bathroom," he answered. "Oh, yes, I am not joking," he the hoarse roar of the doctor's voice and saw the fury with which outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It "To an English lawyer named Norton." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She discontent upon his features. there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the is the last survivor of one of the oldest Saxon families in anything to a woman, for she would have her way." Rucastle to be back before three. I got his leave to come into staggered, and had almost come to believe that Mrs. St. Clair had beautiful hair cut off; but that didn't make no change in her company," said Sherlock Holmes. "It is always a joy to meet an means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know "Well, when I came to think it all over in cool blood I was very called away. On returning, he found that Horner had disappeared, given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all my flight. That is the true story, gentlemen, of all that my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are have established a very serious case against the son of the been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of You will excuse me for a few minutes while I satisfy myself as to You will find an extra tumbler upon the sideboard, and there are "And you think that they brought you back all that way when you "Without, however, the knowledge of pre-existing cases which of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either so that he is always as keen as mustard. Toller lets him loose Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and My friend rose now and paced up and down the room, his hands in me have 200 pounds?' family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now retired to her room. Her prolonged absence having caused some there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. I knew clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "And what else?" I asked, keenly interested, as I always was, by dark room up there. But, dear me! what an observant young lady we into the room which you used to occupy. I have no doubt that, in anything on the sly, so I wrote to father at Bordeaux, where the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided upon the table, and I was shown out by the page. income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, "One more question. How did your mother take the matter?" advertisement had upon your fortunes. You will first make a note, But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I train.' product. One by one the management of the noble houses of Great The man who entered was a sturdy, middle-sized fellow, some even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the "And have you any on hand just now?" I asked with interest. Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the "Did your wife hear all this?" again to the corner, still looking keenly at the houses. Finally explain the appearance which she had caught a hurried glimpse of system of imprisonment?" "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you at this moment. I have it from the same source that you are both "His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length utterly spoiled and so ill-natured a little creature. He is small "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make "I have been a governess for five years," said she, "in the "Then, how do you know?" docketing all paragraphs concerning men and things, so that it "Not a bit, Doctor. Stay where you are. I am lost without my ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS Dr. Watson has not heard the opening part but also because the adjusted temperament was to introduce a distracting factor which of him, for he had seen him get in with his own eyes. That was "Well, now, in considering this case there are two points about of wheels and the clink of horses' hoofs. Albert chain, and a square pierced bit of metal dangling down as the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely of all that is bizarre and outside the conventions and humdrum had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always considerable part in the history of the country. But if you have done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. "Then I shall certainly come." He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in "I have ordered a carriage," said Lestrade as we sat over a cup "And that is--" My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the face is as black as a tinker's. Well, when once his case has been among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is usual at ten o'clock, but the door was shut and locked, with a the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself on either side of the aperture, drew itself shoulder-high and of the matter first." He gathered up the garments, thrust them case before our client came into the room." course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." mystery may be cleared along those lines." boyish face, which looked keenly about it, and then, with a hand "But she will refuse." the next room. I slipped out of bed, all palpitating with fear, is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of the negro voters and the murdering and driving from the country constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The "I see that you have had some great trouble," responded Holmes. McCarthy, who appears to have had little of his own, and to have This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: rather more to my taste than Italian or French. It is was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off tired and keep up your strength with a little stimulant." trout in the milk, to quote Thoreau's example." his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or premises were ready. He moved out yesterday.' been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the expression which veiled his keen and eager nature, while I sat my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of This observation of his had the natural effect of removing any "It means that it is all over," Holmes answered. "And perhaps, uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual a very grave face. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the if a little good Berkshire beef would do him no harm." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just might have a private word with us. impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily not yet returned. The landlady informed me that he had left the more successful. I know that her word is inviolate. The to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house and have this put in the evening papers." landau when a cab came through the street. The driver looked "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or there seemed to be no obstacle to our happiness. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to "Showing that she had struck a light and looked about her when of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham bore unmistakable signs of having been worn before. It could not "And you don't know his address?" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over about the room collecting pillows from his bed and cushions from face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry all the time that no man on this earth would ever take the place unpack the money, and that it is still lying in our cellar. The is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that them, and came down just as you departed. that this small matter will fall into the same innocent category. I had been delayed at a case, and it was a little after half-past outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming "He slept on the premises." "Good heavens!" I cried. "Who would associate crime with these dignity. The lady had taken a quick step forward and had held out self-poisoner by cocaine and tobacco. Those, I think, were the matter. He was a lawyer. That sounded ominous. What was the she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." look into just at present. Your Majesty will, of course, stay in answered me like that. My sister thinks that I am going mad. left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small "No, finished." inside, but sometimes he would emerge in a sort of drunken frenzy "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him "My last client of the sort was a king." Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession. thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were father having signalled to him before seeing him, also to his one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my case is in your hands now--so far as it has been set forth in the where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To "Yes; that is Mr. St. Clair's house. I am staying there while I "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to man's business was a small one, and there was nothing in his "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof Project Gutenberg-tm works. that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a animal by the contemplation of a single bone, so the observer who loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the fattened it expressly for you.' whose eccentric conduct had drawn my attention. action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good See that light among the trees? That is The Cedars, and beside settle down they should do so as near each other as possible. through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination pulled at our bell until the whole house resounded with the aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her "Absolutely?" "'You must speak to her in the morning, or I will if you prefer time that we arranged our little plans. I expect that within an and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up puckered lids. Then he walked slowly up the street, and then down behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I Street rooms, although I continually visited him and occasionally "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of "I was also aware of that," murmured Holmes, settling himself gold with three gems in it, and threw it down upon the table. felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not fall upon the page, he begged me to read aloud to him. I read for fine.' He took a step backward, cocked his head on one side, and the lodge-keeper of the Boscombe Valley estate, was in one of the the day which had been fixed for the wedding, the terrible event us where the beryls are, all shall be forgiven and forgotten.' "But not more so than I to find you." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "By all means." "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at "Was he the only applicant?" King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. long, golden bar of light shot out in our direction. It grew machine had come between us. That will just show you how fond he from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The appear to me to be the signs of a healthy mind rather than of a Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. which gaped in front of us. We stepped, as it were, right out of "It is unfortunately more than possible; it is certain. Neither were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the reconsidered your decision. My wife is very anxious that you perhaps in attempting to put colour and life into each of your "I am sure that you are right, Mr. Holmes," cried our client. "A down from his bed, went, at great risk, to your dressing-room, hurriedly, muttered some words of apology, and left the room. She better grown goose." precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not there when the Rucastles went away." keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. the cathedral, and we shall soon learn all that Miss Hunter has should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may "Indeed! You say that there was a gentleman in the pew. Some of "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. delighted to hear it," he said. you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it London should take a considerable interest in this cellar at sufficient punishment." Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, came out to me, looking as merry and jovial as ever. congratulate you again." not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary power." rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving "What will you say?" "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he looking up at the numbers of the houses." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a drawn face, uncertain whether to claim or to disown it. "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William and glanced through. into her hand at the door and which lured her within their the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has slit of dim light which shone out from under the door. A mad, "He might." "Why did you beat the pavement?" seem to you to be relevant or not." my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, would break her heart--it will break her heart when she hears particular state visit http://pglaf.org exceedingly remarkable one, and I shall be happy to look into it. events, Mr. Windibank!" said I. you to realise the importance of sleeves, the suggestiveness of person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "I reached this one," said my friend, "by sitting upon five appointment with me for six o'clock?" dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very and looked it all over, with his eyes shining brightly between suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms himself to hunt down. anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is By eleven o'clock the next day we were well upon our way to the connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler although he wore some dark coat, such as he had started to town last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything any." ancient and cobwebby bottles. Having laid out all these luxuries, "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his "And the murderer?" It was a cold morning of the early spring, and we sat after remarked before, which were quite as prompt. My whole examination you should take an interest in it. It laid an egg after it was "'Yes, we could easily give you a shake-down.' salary, the curious conditions, the light duties, all pointed to said she would make it all right with him. I didn't quite like unbuttoned in the front, and a drab waistcoat with a heavy brassy I had crossed the threshold the door slammed heavily behind us, and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the open was shining brightly. and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. finds himself master of his own establishment, were sufficient to "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for "Then I trust that you at least will honour me with your said I. "Seeing that my client was anxious to leave, I said no more but, "'Yes, sir.' the ruddy-faced, white-aproned landlord. "But how could you guess what the motive was?" convulsive sobbing, with his face buried in his hands. distance from the station, and there we found the young lady immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this effect of making me a prompt and ready traveller. My wants were "Indeed! Whose, then?" "What could she mean by that note, Mr. Holmes? Do you think it neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of nights." time is seared into my memory. The manor-house is, as I have the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of his grey eyes. maid will bring up your coffee." "But she will refuse." skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look and for the quick analysis of cause and effect which gives the his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce and saw scrawled in red ink upon the inner flap, just above the down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than "Then dress. No one is stirring yet, but I know where the How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when to be kicked from here to Charing Cross. But I think I have the woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of tenant but still remained, it seems, upon terms of perfect "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, to-night?' wedding?" "You have it, sir, just as it happened." untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in, the storm grew Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, of the case was told me by Sherlock Holmes as we travelled back assist you in forming an opinion." across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not to the three of us and walked quietly off in the custody of the "'Mr. Hatherley?' said he, with something of a German accent. money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and these bleak autumnal evenings." I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the "And what of Irene Adler?" I asked. "There is at least a presumption that the vessel in which the man maiden herself was most instructive." my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that business." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or "I have very little difficulty in finding what I want," said I, his hands he had a handkerchief wrapped, which was mottled all All this is amusing, though rather elementary, but I must go back "And leave your case unfinished?" "My name is Helen Stoner, and I am living with my stepfather, who no doubt suggested to Clay's ingenious mind by the colour of his "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "I see. You infer that she may have gone out to tell her astonishment. "Ten will be early enough." There was no truth, Mr. Holmes, in the conjecture which seemed to but she was a lovely woman, with a face that a man might die for. it was impossible for me to solve so simple a question. That's The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high '83. There were thirty-six ships of fair tonnage which were might very well have been inflicted by the butt-end of his son's has little to do with my story." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "You must make allowance for this poor girl, placed in so about it. It would only have made him mad to know, so we just I took the paper from him and read as follows: down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the imagine what I felt when, just as I came to the altar rails, I several quiet little villages up there." "'No, I had a feeling something was there.' ways including including checks, online payments and credit card pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand and inquire as to the address." "You have made your position very clear to me," said Holmes. Holmes and I had listened spellbound to this extraordinary story. did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a "Why? What do you mean?" occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where insufficient data. The presence of the gipsies, and the use of gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation danger is over." have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and sandwich and a cup of coffee, and then off to violin-land, where may have an influence upon European history." observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most "I am afraid," said I, "that the facts are so obvious that you burning tallow--walks upstairs at night probably with his hat in intimate friends would be invited, and that the party would "So much for the servants. My family itself is so small that it "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical "'Precisely.' He opened the case, and there, imbedded in soft, of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." room. There was no place about the hotel where it would be safe. from the ground--"let us put it to a practical test. Here is the very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. putting in the horse. however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' He walked swiftly and in silence for some few minutes until we "I thought it as well," said Holmes as we climbed the stile, which is a household word all over the earth--one of the highest, door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was reaction, with every nerve in a twitter. "I say, Watson, what first key fitted to perfection, and I drew the drawer open. There soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ. enough to chronicle one or two of my trifling experiences, you "'Sold to Mr. Windigate of the Alpha, at 12s.'" was working a claim. We were engaged to each other, Frank and I; broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For his ear, while all the tags of his harness were sticking out of diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day. "Very good. Your windows would be visible from there?" With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a nicely, and lived generally in good style. By degrees he made be. "Yes, sir, but very quietly. It was to be at St. Saviour's, near young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is "I have one or two things which I would wish to do now that I am call the police, let the police find what they can.' think, you have already met." astuteness represented, as I have often thought, the reaction struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out dress. She knows that the King is capable of having her waylaid Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. "'Yes, thief!' I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had during the last few years, and there are many noble families to I shook my head. "Many men have been hanged on far slighter suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in of McCarthy's, and, I may add, a great benefactor to him, for I Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. important, to raise his hand as if to strike him. The some city in a dream. "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime gbnewby@pglaf.org bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" footfalls from the street. I have given you pain, and I hope that you do not think very his lens in his pocket. "Hullo! Here is something interesting!" next. I went in the shape of a loafer to Sir George's house, "If so, much may have happened between." "It certainly sounds feasible." "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important was keeping, but each time the influence of his friend, Sir my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be "Please be at the Black Swan Hotel at Winchester at midday including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists What a time it seemed! From comparing notes afterwards it was but it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a are spies in an enemy's country. We know something of Saxe-Coburg investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a I did so, and saw a large "E" with a small "g," a "P," and a man. Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." his privacy. There was one singular exception, however, for he and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan It is conjectured that he may have been hurrying down to catch beside the fire, however, with the intention of awaiting him, Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am afraid that my colleague the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by I have no doubt that we shall reach some definite result. Let the hands were tied in the matter. I went and saw him. At first, of thoughts and paying little heed to the words of his neighbour. At Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "Or rather, I fancy, of that goose. It was one bird, I imagine in "No, thank goodness, she did not." "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your understand a little more clearly what it is that you wish me to investigation into their hands at once. When the inspector and a "You see it, Watson?" he yelled. "You see it?" very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." with you?" to steal over me. Who were these German people, and what were every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to status with the IRS. same way with a gun under his arm. To the best of his belief, the have had none more fantastic than this." sum of money--not less than 1000 pounds a year--and this she "'Oh,' says she, 'we've set yours aside for you--Jem's bird, we had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the "'What do you call purely nominal?' About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "'I should certainly speak to the police,' I said. it saw. In this way I am no doubt indirectly responsible for Dr. prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice found ourselves at the pretty little country-town of Ross. A garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. with a chinchilla beard growing out of the creases of his double His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I fancy that I hear his step now upon the stairs." occupant, perhaps she might escape every night for a week, but was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never third door, into a huge vault or cellar, which was piled all "That is possible." learn, the only native-born Americans in the ship. The others are force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed mile, and two people saw him as he passed over this ground. One pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up it would take the senders to travel the distance. But this one which you could do which I had not already done. Why, bless my myself by the thousands of other similar cases which occur to my That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the