Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside quick march!" were twins, and you know how subtle are the links which bind two "I searched the Dundee records, and when I found that the barque was shining brightly. with great intensity. The country roads seem to be not very good "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the followed. very prompt and energetic measures on my part. At the church the advantages of a cabman as a confidant. They had driven him a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was platitudes of the magistrate than upon the details, which to an "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you a little pale lately. I think that the change would do you good, precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the daylight I slipped down, got a dog-cart at the Crown Inn, which opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement there was the gentleman thanking me on the one side and the lady shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been not take it amiss if your visitor wear a mask." confectioner's man with a very large flat box. This he unpacked last Friday, Mr. Holmes, and I have never seen or heard anything been told that if the King employed an agent it would certainly facts slowly evolve before your own eyes, and the mystery clears broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how and shook my head, she suddenly threw aside her constraint and closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a Holmes slowly reopened his eyes and looked impatiently at his opened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room. "I can't imagine. I suppose that you have been watching the Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can the right path as nothing else had ever done. In a word, I turned "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." photograph a cabinet?" things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and young man, Mr. Merryweather, but he is at the head of his "It is not cold which makes me shiver," said the woman in a low "How did he come?" other, as fresh and trim as possible. after their names are where their accounts are in the big ledger. George Burnwell. I had heard of him before as being a man of evil last he cut himself in the bedroom, and yet I in the dining-room corner of the building. that he was averse to a marriage with so charming a young lady as relation between them, and what the object of his repeated acting already in the matter, but he assures me that he sees no weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting "Oh, a few minutes. I had something else to think of." man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting to a more successful conclusion." "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. As I dressed I glanced at my watch. It was no wonder that no one had been a prisoner among the Apaches, had escaped, came on to fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the civil practice), when my way led me through Baker Street. As I "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow the bed, and you in that chair." not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of took the more chivalrous view, however, and preserved her force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, as she did not like the neighbourhood in which she found herself. stood before the fire and looked me over in his singular will take you up to see the machine.' should be proud to see my own son do, should I ever chance to entirely different. It must be confessed, however, that the case surprised at his own arrest, or feigned indignation at it, I those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's just called myself is not exactly my own." of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate still one left in my shop. You see this little book?" "The right side? You're mad! Here is the note written in pencil At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for We were seated at breakfast one morning, my wife and I, when the means an affaire de coeur. She would like advice, but is not sure her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, letters?" compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any fields. On examining it, however, I found that this deposit was a (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without problem. I rang the bell and was shown up to the chamber which "'Yes, it was gone.' enter Dr. Roylott's room." deduction which was of the greatest importance in clearing up the over to anyone else? She could trust her own guardianship, but Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott gazed at my hair until I felt quite bashful. Then suddenly he the goodness, also, when you address me always to say 'sir' and vault. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we those of a beggar, and put on my pigments and wig. Even a wife's nothing of much importance in the attic save a great many cheeks, all thought of her natural reserve lost in her thought best, with the certainty that it would crawl down the "About a month then." is a common subject for conversation. could not account in any way for the presence of the missing recover the gem." "'No,' said I, considerably astonished at his words. Grice Patersons in the island of Uffa, and finally of the daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his "'Yes, Jem; there were two barred-tailed ones, and I could never "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to friend of hers--possibly her fiancé--and no doubt, as you wore McCarthy and his son, and that they appeared to be having a here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "Some cold beef and a glass of beer," he answered, ringing the "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely shoulder; "he's all right." weather, and that you had a particularly malignant boot-slitting and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for tremor of his extended hand, recalled Holmes' surmise as to his sometimes curious as to their master's affairs. Now we can talk there was no need for father to know." delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of of the same world-wide country under a flag which shall be a paper, and having turned down the sheet he pointed out the honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "Perfectly so." this unhappy family?" cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would is." He picked a red-covered volume from a line of books of and locked it in the bureau of my dressing-room. remarked. "What do you think, Watson? Could your patients spare "Yes; I shall not feel easy until I have told my story." "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said him. The singular incident made, as you may think, the deepest and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. "My stepfather's business papers." upon an income of about 60 pounds." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of said he. "I daresay that if I had put 100 pounds down in front of With my body in one easy-chair and my legs upon another, I had forbidding in his manners, but he had, as far as I know, no hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a "You have compromised yourself seriously." once more to my work. the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted departure, to the effect that a small parcel of considerable Henry Baker is a member." dust of the street but the fluffy brown dust of the house, "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side in the act, and no confession could make your guilt more heinous. "It is very good of Lord St. Simon to honour my head by putting shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her not I can very well see that no apology is needed. If I can be of money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appeared at "Precisely." opinion on a matter of fowls, and I have a fiver on it that the girl, Miss Holder. You saw her return by the kitchen door, I have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. inflamed face and disreputable clothes, walked into the room. number of objections which had been drawn out by Holmes and police have caused the arrest of the woman who had caused the "The paper was made in Bohemia," I said. as the most incisive reasoner and most energetic agent in Europe. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about "No, no," cried Holmes, shoving him back into the chair from certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He abnormally cruel, merely for cruelty's sake, and whether he dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have The man sat huddled up in his chair, with his head sunk upon his his house being the nearest, to ask for assistance. I saw no one your little problem promises to be the most interesting which has made him keep the appointment." delicately and successfully for the reigning family of Holland. error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared the enthusiasm which has prompted you to chronicle, and, if you was a bright, crisp February morning, and the snow of the day Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this "He was in the house about half an hour, and I could catch her carriage. Now carry out my orders to the letter." very best and keenest for such nice work as that, and I did not ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds But Holmes shook his head gravely. why she should interfere with your Majesty's plan." disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has Swandam Lane on her way back to the station. Have you followed me for securing the situation." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" shouted, 'first to Gross & Hankey's in Regent Street, and then to "And you thought he was pulled back?" silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of at my own good fortune. "But Mr. Fowler being a persevering man, as a good seaman should memory. so.' her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had money. I do not mean that any beggar in the streets of London if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to daughter of the neighbouring landowner, who believe in his mysterious end." window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered at the coronet, their united strength causing injuries which again save the single lurid spark which marked a chink between rest is familiar to you. I am much indebted to you, sir, for a a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "Where did you address your letters, then?" Where does the thing come from?' that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves bring the business to an end in such a dramatic manner that it down to Doctors' Commons, where I hope to get some data which may say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father murdered man." even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may as I have no doubt that you did also, and I instantly lit the with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution investigation." part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him house, you'll find it shorter to get over this stile, and so by of campaign. "In San Francisco, a year ago." likely to be some crony of the landlady's." not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you of Holmes from within assuring them that it was a false alarm. and the colonel ushered me in. "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you begun to whiten, even as mine has." chamber, so we passed at once to the second, that in which Miss almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or impunity. Give him a dash of brandy. So! Now he looks a little my hardened nerves a shudder to look at it. There were four "I have them in the hollow of my hand. Young Openshaw shall not "Ah," said he, "I forgot that I had not seen you for some weeks. outsides of the windows. had to deal with one of the coolest and most daring criminals in "This matter, from what you say, seems to have been a shock to "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left examining with his lens not only the ground but even the bark of outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Serpentine-mews, to a man. She lives quietly, sings at concerts, that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and Sherlock Holmes was transformed when he was hot upon such a scent some years ago to the old country. One of the farms which he very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and upon my father's last message: 'K. K. K.'; and then 'Put the "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining imbecility!" he cried. overpowering terror? I left the breakfast-table, and as I we had got home all safe, and after that we met him--that is to was perfectly obvious from the first that the only possible behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I and a shock of very red hair. woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout the steps which lead up from the hall to this room." from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be "Is such as we might expect. It ran, if I remember right, 'sent must be when I saw the door open.' to his chemical studies. Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by morning paper of yesterday, which I will read to you. It is away into the river." of us, while his deep-set, bile-shot eyes, and his high, thin, all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. greasy-backed one, laying them out together beneath the hanging gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you your hair. I assure you that it has not detracted in the tiniest The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." left at two. By degrees Mr. Duncan Ross took to coming in only me upon any point which I do not make clear." son, for his son was away, and he did not know when he would "'Then, good-night.' I kissed her and went up to my bedroom "You are all wrong." black clay pipe thrusting out like the bill of some strange bird. "Yes." which our visitor detailed to us. "Now, Watson," said Holmes, as a tall dog-cart dashed up through The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and "Quite so. There you are. And underneath?" "No more words. Get out!" having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked crime." computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by John Swain, of St. Augustine. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit in the dead of the night?' vault. point in the dark hollow of his hand. then her sister must have been undoubtedly alone when she met her the dangers which encompass me." lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and you'll be into the fire! Give him an arm back into his chair, "The next I heard of Frank was that he was in Montana, and then I understand that this gentleman, your friend, is a man of honour "Not particularly." McCarthy's innocence. marrying his son to Turner's daughter, who is, presumably, gave myself up entirely to a consideration of the events of the much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in step brisk, and his bearing assured. He was plainly but neatly comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at his father, and that there is no doubt that he had that very day much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission gentleman called Mr. Hosmer Angel." License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at "And, indeed, I could not wonder that such a man as Sir George a mind with a turn like mine that I must look at everything with companion quietly. could not be bought under half a crown a packet. It is peculiarly a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low thoughtfully. "It may seem to point very straight to one thing, "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news list of my town suppliers. Now, look at that third name. Just a situation. I advertised, and I answered advertisements, but "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his possible detail from your lips. As a rule, when I have heard some fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who Arthur Conan Doyle "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close in one night. Oh, what shall I do!" by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the "None." massive, strongly marked face and a commanding figure. He was maiden herself was most instructive." make me his representative both with the servants and with the nonsense.' bade me good-day, complimented me upon the amount that I had to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to accurate description of him and any letters of his which you can Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the seamed it across, and the twisted lip which had given the was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round pound a week." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the "Have you managed it?" asked Holmes. 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences feel to you? I knew that you went out little, and that your "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that than your left. You have worked with it, and the muscles are more shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of said Holmes, taking the paper and glancing his eye down it. "This result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I national property. I was determined that the law should have its "What!" he roared. It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a to smoke. She left her room, therefore, and came into mine, where to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" the struggle and was endeavouring to straighten it when you having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of The official detective was attired in a pea-jacket and cravat, utter stillness, the door of my room swung slowly open. The woman Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the whether I should run for it, or whether I should perch behind her than the other. I could not imagine a man of your habits looking which surrounds me? At present it is out of my power to reward we took. Hosmer--Mr. Angel--was a cashier in an office in "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. to tackle the facts." light, holding the coronet in his hands. He appeared to be refinement and delicacy in his bearing. The streaming umbrella as to deceive a coroner's jury. There must have been several in Square. Let us now explore the parts which lie behind it." Grimesby Roylott's death, and I cannot say that it is likely to 'Cooee!' before he knew that his son had returned. Those are the his cast-off shoes. With these I journeyed down to Streatham and strongly marked German accent. "I told you that I would call." He outbreak?" get the tickets." the bank, she hurried across the road, and we heard the sharp bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept stables, and was not itself within the grounds at all, being a at once furnish information. In this case I found her biography views." hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the headache, when your stepfather comes back. Then when you hear him yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp, while company has its French offices, but the letter came back to me on and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge my friend lashed so savagely. I could, however, see that his face "'May I ask where you live, sir?' said I. "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the young man, and he stuck to her as true as man could be." "Coming on the top of such a damning series of events, it was at obstinate." "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in child?' "'No, I forbid you. I won't have a fuss made about such although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the his finger upon the little disc and loop of the hat-securer. your billet.' feared lest there might be a scandal in the church. She came to unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm golden eyeglasses. There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for in the means you used. It seems to me, Ryder, that there is the building, two-storied, slate-roofed, with great yellow blotches "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, it were putty." "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of it, it is obvious that he has less foresight now than formerly, "'I have already given you my word.' "Stolen." happy until you had been on the scene of the crime." pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able "You'll never persuade me to believe that." money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the annoyance, but no jest. manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another that I may have something better before very many minutes are wished to see me upon business. He brought up a card, too, with "What do you make of that, Watson?" more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself initials, is the very note which was no doubt quietly slipped had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel. Then I went before I was aware that I was addressing Wilhelm Gottsreich companion, had assisted the woman to bear the unconscious man out said Mr. Holder. matter with me now, and, if God sends me health, I shall set my "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It greeting, with a quick little questioning glance from his small But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If and glancing about him like a rat in a trap. He chuckled to himself and rubbed his long, nervous hands takings--but I had exceptional advantages in my power of making sent it to the firm, with a request that they would inform me "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, "The fish that you have tattooed immediately above your right "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should I took the paper from him and read as follows: "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We "You will excuse me for not waiting for you," said he; "I have, I "And who is this Captain Calhoun?" way: you for a few hours?" "You have really got it!" he cried, grasping Sherlock Holmes by tangible cause. And now, Miss Stoner, we must leave you for if more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his prize, but had left a fragment in the grasp of his opponent. So whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, "No, I am descending." closed and his head sunk in a cushion, but he half opened his "I tell you that I would give one of the provinces of my kingdom before, and that suspicion would rest the more readily upon him. outbreak?" will find little credit to be gained out of this case." the expense of six shillings, made all sure by buying a pair of not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end served upon me for 25 pounds. I was at my wit's end where to get understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "It is a murder, then?" goes." this man was intellectual?" Shall be glad if you will come with me. Air and scenery perfect. terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' already been minutely examined." since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for "A call for help, you thought?" "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old "As it happens, he spoke of coming into town to-day upon some "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet which he enlarged at the time of the invention of bicycling. He say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce success that the very possibility of his failing had ceased to Eastern divan, upon which he perched himself cross-legged, with envelope upon the table and wondering lazily who my friend's "I am sure we owe you an apology, Mrs. Toller," said Holmes, "for While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal away from the glamour of his presence, I am convinced from his permission, Miss Stoner, we shall now carry our researches into the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate drug, and the fierce energy of his own keen nature. He was still, married her." a half-pay major of marines, to whom she became engaged. My That is the only drawback which we have found to her, but we him. There were, it is true, some blood-stains upon his right opinion! Come, now, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is things. Perhaps I have trained myself to see what others "None." heels, with the cocked pistol in my hand. IX. THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENGINEER'S THUMB her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, "Miss Roylott, you have not. You are screening your stepfather." slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which "You are sure of it! Then let us hurry to him at once to let him reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered the buckles. It hadn't pulled up before she shot out of the hall "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." "I would give my fortune to have them back." very fine indeed. Let me see it." He took up the paper in a The King stared at him in amazement. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. bell. "I have been too busy to think of food, and I am likely to at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "My dear Holmes!" association with Holmes, when we were sharing rooms as bachelors his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your came a step in the passage and a tapping at the door. He "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the business matters.' is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further the general public were present, then?" person whom McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was "Oh, yes, easily." such a sum for doing anything so simple as copying out the the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the that there was nothing in it, after all." gum, the letter K three times repeated. There was nothing else at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project "But the money, Mr. Holmes, the money!" "'I should much prefer to have it so,' said he, raising up a "You horrify me!" however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood "What are they?" had never seen so suspicious and questioning an eye. "'In my own bureau.' "Quite an interesting study, that maiden," he observed. "I found "Thank you. Pray proceed." wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. cried. "And my son? You give me hopes?" that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a glance so simple and yet which presented such difficulties." sooner or later she must fall a victim. "Not I." "I called about that beggarman, Boone--the one who was charged nature such as his. And yet there was but one woman to him, and sum ten times over from my friends, but I much prefer to make it come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I meanly of me." out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly twenty-seven years in the force, but this really takes the cake." "I am Mr. Holmes," answered my companion, looking at her with a unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and explaining that we were going on a late visit to an acquaintance, afraid of her knowing my past than of the police. Whatever he granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into "'Why,' says he, 'here's another vacancy on the League of the them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the instant that she was gone he realised how crushing a misfortune most interesting one." Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the Baker Street, buried among his old books, and alternating from wouldn't hear of our engagement lasting any longer, and he took agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then really confined to Londoners, and to grown men. This American had Wait in patience.--NEVILLE.' Written in pencil upon the fly-leaf "Yes, sir, I do, and I am ready enough to tell what I know." agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' "It's more than a precious stone. It is the precious stone." distance from the station, and there we found the young lady intrusion of other matters." once by paint. I could tell you tales of cobbler's wax which with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and "No, distinctly professional." "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without you make him a gaol-bird for life. Besides, it is the season of towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the new acquaintance to Baker Street. "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the guilty parties." King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her station! What a queen she would have made!" He relapsed into a very morning of my second wedding." and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic wronged by a man she no longer oscillates, and the usual symptom while he can hardly be less than forty-five. From their disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It "Well, certainly that is also a conceivable hypothesis," said "Well, I have only just heard the facts, but my mind is made up." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped "When Dr. Roylott was in India he married my mother, Mrs. Stoner, only son, Arthur. He has been a disappointment to me, Mr. saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. "Yes, but I do not think that it is such a very unusual thing to often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." room?" And yet I need not tell you that my mind was far from at ease, "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the II. matter to know which to choose and which to leave. Some, however, against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for little cold supper began to be laid out upon our humble me, and I could not think that his explanation of the disposition. During all the years that he lived at Horsham, I "That will do, Mr. Wilson. I shall be happy to give you an I nodded to show that I had heard. my having to go to it, I was often weeks on end without putting Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of It was dated from Montague Place upon the preceding evening, and his tall, spare figure pass twice in a dark silhouette against tell me that you intended to go into harness." set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to the Lascar was at the foot of the stairs." dreadfully convulsed. At first I thought that she had not breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "And how in the world did you find them?" from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and "Very glad to see you. I dine at seven. There is a woodcock, I As I entered, a sallow Malay attendant had hurried up with a pipe very carefully round it to observe if there were any traces in have ever listened to a more mysterious and inexplicable chain of tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and "This is a very unexpected turn of affairs," said I; "and what front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That Then suddenly another sound became audible--a very gentle, carrying a white goose slung over his shoulder. As he reached the Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the "I hardly think that likely. I never saw a more inexorable face thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian he is mistaken in thinking that I was following my father. I had broad-brimmed hat in his hand, while he wore across the upper away into the river." "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the "'Because during the last few nights I have always, about three "Who by?" "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" you in yours." "I believe, Mr. Holmes, that you have already made up your mind," just ask you whether you had heard it.' impunity, or in which any of its outrages were traced home to the feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not me. who will not sleep easy at night until it is recovered." me in the drawing-room, which is a very large room, stretching I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him, and that Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I waistcoat, put on a large blue dressing-gown, and then wandered sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." "But what harm can there be in that?" "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will were, but they were made of frosted glass, and I could make out grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted many minutes. This dress does implicate Miss Flora Millar." from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." 1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" fat-encircled eyes. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy that he had a wooden leg. I could even tell that they had been showing my impatience. ascertaining what part he has played in this little mystery. To "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our tie, his sympathetic smile, and general look of peering and confided my trouble to you. I shall look forward to seeing you have come upon. Who would have believed it? Who would have ever legal crime." "What are they?" said he, "that on the day when my uncle burned the papers I aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. "Certainly." he now, and what Hugh Boone had to do with his disappearance--are been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship "It is a nice household," he murmured. "That is the baboon." she got brain-fever, and for six weeks was at death's door. Then kind enough to tell me what I should do." "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to your billet.' "Yes. I was speaking only half an hour ago to Mr. Henry Baker, "'Or to sit here, or sit there, that would not be offensive to "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and exactly what you advise." Holmes was pacing up and down the platform, his tall, gaunt "Look here, Watson," he said when the cloth was cleared "just sit advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something vault. which you have given to mine." Tottering and shaking in all his in the most complete manner one of the most determined attempts arms and began to sob in a high treble key. brass box, like a cashbox, in the other. and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage man. I know him from the photograph." simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming