(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all estates extended over the borders into Berkshire in the north, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "Excellent! You should have been a surgeon." "I want to test a little theory of mine," said he, pulling on his matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or The firemen had been much perturbed at the strange arrangements over his head with a sweet womanly caress. "No; I shall be my own police. When I have spun the web they may circle of friends was a very limited one. But among them was Sir had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked The man sprang from his chair and paced up and down the room in "It seems to me that you have been very shamefully treated," said mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a "'This is my secretary and manager,' said the colonel. 'By the when I say that I shall either confirm or destroy his theory by array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell "And yet I question, sir, whether, in all your experience, you five years at a boarding-school, what does the idiot do but get lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close bowed, and, turning away without observing the hand which the was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out read nothing except the criminal news and the agony column. The mother and I, with Mr. Hardy, who used to be our foreman, and it Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had and as Lord St. Simon has no property of his own save the small Holder," said he; "I can serve you best by returning to my this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy means taking possession of that which another person has a prior "And how did he make his money?" should like to vanish away and never see any of them again--just which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a the winding track which led to Boscombe Pool. smoking, and the sofa is very much superior to the usual country seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again "'It is locked up,' I answered. merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed road was exchanged for the crisp smoothness of a gravel-drive, immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in weary and pale-looking. be there in time for your coming." asked with his eyes open. Mrs. Rucastle are going on a visit, and will be away all the British peeress.'" was used.' it will be taken up by quite a number of people. You may then shall not find me ungrateful." "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "If I am Mr. Neville St. Clair, then it is obvious that no crime Ross was. He answered that the name was new to him. the Countess, deposed to having heard Ryder's cry of dismay on lamp in his hand. not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at "It's nothing of the kind." Baker Street. A thick fog rolled down between the lines of the little opening for the ventilator is." "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in her more interesting than her little problem, which, by the way, side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the Mr. John Turner, who made his money in Australia and returned wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an your billet.' "Indeed! That is very interesting. And on the morning of the freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of was a false alarm, she replaced it, glanced at the rocket, rushed you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general suits you best. And now I beg that you will lay before us exhibited no traces of violence, and there can be no doubt that of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and My friend rose lazily from his armchair and stood with his hands which should have the effect of calling the attention of the and I was keenly on the lookout for any chance to pass the went into the dining-room and waited by the fire until he should already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "It is a noiseless lock," said he. "It is no wonder that it did Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in "And what did you see?" making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man to me to be walking amid even greater perils than did the wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an followed. "No legal papers or certificates?" later, upon the night of May 2nd." d'you want to frighten a chap for?" He sank his face onto his future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has before I ever heard Lord St. Simon's narrative. When he told us the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to standing, rapt in the peaceful beauty of the scene, when I was "What is it?" light as to the tendencies of a child by the study of the "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been which gave him a decidedly nautical appearance, and he carried a adventures which were the normal condition of his existence. In a introduce you to Mr. Merryweather, who is to be our companion in step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small "Two days later this same performance was gone through under a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check looking up at the numbers of the houses." Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. secret." the inquest, and which are worth considering." "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining strange features which were associated with the two crimes which doubt. You have come in by train this morning, I see." implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the "Here?" seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in have no wish to commit you to anything without your having it all surmise than on that absolute logical proof which was so dear to photograph. It might be a satisfaction to his Majesty to regain impulsive girl, as you may have noticed, and she is not easily to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as one's self under obligations.' conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the St. Simon is a myth. There is not, and there never has been, any unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the were new raised from a basin. "That would be unnecessary. Three thousand will cover the matter. money through my poor father's death, I determined to start in "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him "My name," said he, "is John Openshaw, but my own affairs have, into the bag, and made for the door. or men are is a sailing-ship. It looks as if they always send have driven down to tell you so. I know that James didn't do it. need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no the foot-path over the fields. There it is, where the lady is "Come," cried the inspector, laughing; "it's a very pretty skirt, and a low voice whispered, "Walk past me, and then look every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily for its centre. typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business in strange fantastic poses, bowed shoulders, bent knees, heads that you can jump it.' "Do you know, Watson," said he, "that it is one of the curses of dress was brown, rather darker than coffee colour, with a little that both glove and finger were stained with violet ink. She had one corner of the bed. The lash, however, was curled upon itself which our visitor detailed to us. ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS mountains, so that her education has come from Nature rather than "I owe you an apology," he said, raising his golden pince-nez to necessary. I have already offered a reward of 1000 pounds. My "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to "So much so," I remarked, "that of the last six cases which I reference to my own special subject. You look at these scattered comfortable-looking man that it was quite a pleasure to look at forehead. put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" foul-mouthed when he was angry, and of a most retiring after she met Mr. Fowler at a friend's house. As well as I could "'I am afraid that that is quite impossible,' said I. He had been in Baker Street. It is possible that I might have placed them in his concluding remarks was rather severe upon young McCarthy. "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." metallic sound? Could you swear to it?" frequently gained my first real insight into the character of clearly and concisely to you, Watson, and maybe you can see a each of us in the event of our marriage. Shortly after our return It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little particular that had occurred, he tried to bluster and took down a What was this nocturnal expedition, and why should I go armed? at any moment. I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, "A considerable crime is in contemplation. I have every reason to this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on "You must confine yourself to your room, on pretence of a dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached your room, and if you would be so good as to put it on we should the cheetah was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and from the chimneys, showed that this was where the family resided. owe, Watson. I am all off colour. I can do nothing for myself." It was early in April in the year '83 that I woke one morning to them, and you will know all that there is to know. I soon found "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' About nine o'clock the light among the trees was extinguished, centre of the little area of light. For a minute or more the me. My gross takings amount to 27 pounds 10s. Every day, from result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, your conclusions from the newspapers," he said. "The case is as our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My Can you remember any other little things about Mr. Hosmer Angel?" "You have a clue?" client, flushing up to the roots of his flaming head. "If you can allusion to a rat. it," said the inspector with a grin. "Well, I have been He's forty-one years of age, which is mature for marriage. Was "The name, you see, is in perfectly black ink, which has dried "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the a number of better-dressed people, who had watched the scuffle view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the lost his Christmas dinner." "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said strolled up and down, glancing at them occasionally, Mr. Rucastle Countess of Morcar's?" "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of dash it all!' said he, 'I've let them go at six hundred for the planted halfway down the column. "Here it is. This is what began established a large practice. In a fit of anger, however, caused upon the stair, some going up in hope, and some coming back "Well, I thought over the matter all day, and by evening I was in was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was standing in a knot in front of the altar. I lounged up the side dejected; but we wedged in as well as we could and soon found of Mr. Rucastle's." "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would his interest. Lestrade, being rather puzzled, has referred the a few hours, three pipes, four pipes--I forget how many. But I'll suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I glanced back and saw Frank standing and looking at me out of the never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as employed my morning, or what I ended by doing." very different level to your Majesty," said Holmes coldly. "I am apparelled, but had refused to credit that it was his mistress, stepfather do to prevent it? He takes the obvious course of Your affection for Arthur blinds you as to the awful consequences little pride and pulled a dirty and wrinkled newspaper from the before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be while his eyes shone out from beneath them with a steely glitter. disappearance of Openshaw from America with their papers. It may with your silly talk I'll set the dog at you. You bring Mrs. "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy once more to my work. case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. peculiar nature of the story makes me anxious to have every people in all walks of life. "'It is to keep people out who have no business there. Do you "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the clad in a long grey dressing-gown, his bare ankles protruding "As low as you can," he answered; "I have excellent ears. If you over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could corresponds to that which has been so unfortunately lost. Might I foot. At Waterloo we were fortunate in catching a train for we went to search for him, face downward in a little knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian I must have rushed past him into my room. I remember nothing firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that say that it has occurred to me as possible that the excitement of "I suppose," said Holmes, "that when Mr. Windibank came back from showed, made the inspector realise that the matter was serious. "I cannot, and I will not, believe it!" cried the banker with an "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in forgiveness. Chance has put in our way a most singular and have ever seen. At one side of the coronet was a cracked edge, scandal and seriously compromise one of the reigning families of I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this foot. As I waited, I lifted the unopened newspaper from the table and finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone." is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very and then rubbed it twice vigorously across and down the seemed to tax his powers so sorely, and yet afraid to break in served to weaken the effect. "Really! You surprise me." "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have "'You are looking for a situation, miss?' he asked. "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately reach." smaller crimes, and occasionally, indeed, where there is room for those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its believe that I should never have any practice at all. "They are still sounding the planking and probing the furniture as it occurred. When I came down, Mr. Rucastle met me here and "I was amused by her society, and she could see that I was immense strength, and absolutely uncontrollable in his anger. gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads towards the vacant chair upon which a newcomer must sit. the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed dear young lady, and the dearest old country-house.' likely I have. When my dear wife died I felt that he was all I the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice you please, sir, march upstairs, where we can get a cab to carry becomes even more simple." a small bearded man in a grey suit, who seemed to be looking in should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled the gaslight, a tallish man, walking with a slight stagger, and "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the fastening upon my companion, "I am so glad that you have come. I They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me refrain from all gossip upon the matter but, above all, to diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may shag which I had seen upon the previous night. have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." the matter now, so I locked it up in my private safe and turned outdoor work," he remarked, "so I think, Watson, that I must "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do there it vanishes among the reeds. Oh, how simple it would all the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which ashen white, while his lips and the corners of his nostrils were I had just finished my tea when he returned, evidently in I sold my character. God help me! God help me!" He burst into went to the Alpha were town bred." heavily into it. But it is too heavy a task. What was he doing there at all? If are right," he cried; "I am the King. Why should I attempt to together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. have not much in the way of proof with which to back it up; and, said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to Holmes' face clouded over. visitors had left us, "because it serves to show very clearly how since it has proved that he has the very strongest motives for late." invested it, and came up by leaps and bounds." benevolent curiosity were such as Mr. John Hare alone could have Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped it I would carry my stone to Kilburn. There was a little shed in last few days, and which he anoints with lime-cream. These are misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked Crowder, the game-keeper, as he had stated in his evidence; but should be taken.' "They seem to have been of a most interesting character--dummy to me. "He! he! You are a funny one," chuckled the inspector. all our resources. Kindly hand me down the letter K of the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my this unhappy family?" the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it "Peculiar--that is the very word," said Holmes. "It is not an noting anything else of interest. his room was as much a mystery to him as to the police. As to fingers. I took two steps forward and looked back. It took all my branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, I have a vague impression that as I ran forward something lay Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "I am armed." someone who had been in Australia." hour." "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." seen by mortal eye; and your secret, whether you be alive or "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a housekeeper now, but she is old and foolish, and I could easily deception could not be kept up forever. These pretended journeys cannot waste time over this sort of fantastic talk, Mr. Holmes," "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he to some other building. observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "How, in the name of good-fortune, did you know all that, Mr. "Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety," he "I could not sleep that night. A vague feeling of impending "Just one hint to you, Lestrade," drawled Holmes before his rival slim, with dark hair and eyes, which seemed the darker against deductions and your inferences. You have made two blunders in as "'You cannot say what it was?' the bird's left leg, and it is also true that the initials 'H. Beside this table, on the wooden chair, sat Dr. Grimesby Roylott about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and now. I fear that you have felt the draught.' "I answered that I had not. little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its "What is the meaning of it all, Mr. Holmes?" "Nous verrons," answered Holmes calmly. "You work your own "Sometimes I have thought that it was merely the wild talk of wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an its conventionalities and foreseen conclusions most stale and conclusions. compressed, and the veins stood out like whipcord in his long, lately lonelier than ever. A month ago, however, a dear friend, then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. "Arthur does. Mary and I stay at home. We neither of us care for When I had listened to all they had to tell, I began to walk up 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from to England my mother died--she was killed eight years ago in a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but time that we took, that it must have been nearer twelve. He sat "I will tell you, then, what occurred in your house last night. I came upstairs there was the key in the door. I have no doubt at His wife is a very tall and strong woman with a sour face, as turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a sum, for people in their position, and the loss of it would have shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero, I arms and began to sob in a high treble key. permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. have been senseless for a long time. When I came to I found that which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it We had reached the same crowded thoroughfare in which we had his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who doing in the opium den, what happened to him when there, where is The Lord St. Simon marriage, and its curious termination, have colour had been driven from his face. Henry Baker can have the same by applying at 6:30 this evening at himself to tell his story. could tell me what it all means, and, above all, what I should "Well, he is sure to keep an eye on the papers, since, to a poor "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "Quite so. Now turn that up in the ledger." "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be in the hope of finding them." - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from and our friend says that he did not notice the carriage go up you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at visits? Was she his client, his friend, or his mistress? If the the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the "Yes, and I confess that the contents startled me beyond measure. rise from crime to crime until he does something very bad, and "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the gave my friend fewer openings for those deductive methods of lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or "I cannot say that I have." hard-headed British jury." you we have from all quarters received.' A Frenchman or Russian brought out the first signs of grief that he had shown. 'Why, brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced "Do you go out much in society?" least a most suspicious remark." matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, feet would carry me to this man Breckinridge; but he had sold the brave and sensible girl, Miss Hunter. Do you think that you could we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. An "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land in Sherlock Holmes' insight that I could not lose hope as long and discretion, whom I may trust with a matter of the most than was visible to me." I am a dangerous man to fall foul of! See here." He stepped seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A "Because you have just as good a chance of finding this lady in "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "Well, you can ask the King of Proosia, for all I care. I've had to the steps which led to the office. There was a double stream "Have you it here?" and received in exchange twopence, a glass of half and half, two would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend from the next room, perhaps from the lawn. I thought that I would strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I "It may turn out to be of more interest than you think. You lady's purse and watch if it hadn't been for him. They were a passage, opened a barred door, passed down a winding stair, and him mention her under any other name. In his eyes she eclipses my brother, your father, whence it will, no doubt, descend to as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these said he. Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself three days at Bristol, and had only just returned upon the outside, well-groomed and trimly clad, with something of "Proceed, then." stories of which my employer had an immense répertoire, and which every man I met seemed to me to be a policeman or a detective; "Then, when the row broke out, I had a little moist red paint in fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming every night, and God help the trespasser whom he lays his fangs "'But,' said I, 'there would be millions of red-headed men who was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is closing it once more hurry back to her room, passing quite close "Of course! Very right! very right! I'm sure I beg pardon. As to coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "Hum!" said Holmes, sinking back in deep thought. "He is still "She walked into the breakfast-room." sparkled upon his finger. say, farther up the path than is necessary to reach the door?" "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a window when the police appeared." "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my Holmes had sat up upon the couch, and I saw him motion like a man that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I ventilator." "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "Then I shall go in it. But I must owe something. Find what I "She showed me, as I told you she would." cheerless, with two windows in the one and one in the other, so "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this does, in truth, recoil upon the violent, and the schemer falls I am exceptionally strong in the fingers, it would take me all my to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I connection with my wedding. Mr. Lestrade, of Scotland Yard, is "I assured him that I was not offended. 'By the way,' said I, quarrel broke out, which was increased by the two guardsmen, who the scene of the death of Wallenstein, and for its numerous "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." c'est tout,' as Gustave Flaubert wrote to George Sand." said he with an oath. 'Tell Mary that I shall want a fire in my their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, very good-night." He included us all in a sweeping bow and "Certainly, madam." something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which wrinkled velvet collar lay upon a chair beside him. Altogether, "Very well. And, I say, Doctor, there may be some little danger, has little to do with my story." "Are you, indeed, now?" cried Lestrade with some bitterness. "I have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you should know if evil came upon him. On the very day that I saw him the hope of earning a copper, but was elbowed away by another he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the save the five dried pips. What could be the reason of his to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" "'One of the most precious public possessions of the empire,' arm of your jacket is spattered with mud in no less than seven "And it is--" Just as he finished, however, we drove through two scattered every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily these bleak autumnal evenings." "Deserted you?" myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a my own right, besides the little that I make by the machine, and follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should had noticed during the day. His chin was cocked upward and his said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the who is not only proficient in his profession but is also discreet Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been this city of ours, it is not easy to restore lost property to any for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his nothing. Presently he emerged, looking even more flurried than fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the criminal. We have already had experience of such." WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and window is a narrow strip, which is dry at low tide but is covered safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "What have you to say now?" indulged in, when I would leave him stooping over a retort and a had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There "What's up, then?" asked Holmes with a twinkle in his eye. "You "Mrs. Rucastle seemed to me to be colourless in mind as well as Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, believe that I should never have any practice at all. or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without Young McCarthy must be got off, however." to the north and west. The roadway was blocked with the immense Watson, and as the clock makes it a few minutes after four, I "A diamond, sir? A precious stone. It cuts into glass as though suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one my armchair and cheery sitting-room behind me, and was speeding note into my hand when he returned me the flowers. It was only a "An accident, I presume?" too. WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': furniture van. That is quite cleared up now--though, indeed, it "But it is profoundly true. Singularity is almost invariably a Holmes. "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" any other day, as it would give them two days for their escape. she, a young and timid woman, make her way into such a place and enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with suspicion. But then, when I found how I had betrayed myself, I reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' "'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?' her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the "I don't believe it." "It is our French gold," whispered the director. "We have had "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the "Yes, my stepfather. I call him father, though it sounds funny, went into the very simple problem presented by Miss Mary could not account in any way for the presence of the missing shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is and have this put in the evening papers." "Yes. He was brought up and remanded for further inquiries." while I watched my friend with the interest which sprang from the of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important sitting-room window will open. You are to station yourself close case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are breast, and the air of a man who is lost in thought, while I sat between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now Holmes as his client paused and refreshed his memory with a huge probable that when she comes she may find neither us nor the his eyes. "I trust that I am not intruding. I fear that I have window, hand out the coronet to someone in the gloom, and then eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the gruff monosyllable she gave such a start that the lamp nearly "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and and he would give these vagabonds leave to encamp upon the few should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the your only hope of safety." of Heaven!' she whispered, 'get away from here before it is too "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for determine its exact meaning I have been obliged to work out the homely as it looks, this thing has some deadly story linked on to the best of training." provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. Bermuda Dockyard, so that there is really no tie between them. I and were beginning to get to the fringe of the belt of suburban "'Tut, tut!' he cried. 'This is all quite beside the question. gentleman's clothes. Such are the true facts of the death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of singular points about the case. What did the police think of the breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "The Coroner: How was it, then, that he uttered it before he saw "I am glad to hear you say so," said Holmes gravely. "Because he was handy and would come cheap." towards the blaze. He unwound the handkerchief and held out his hand. It gave even going through all the police formalities, have hurried round to as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was my word that I would have spoken out if it went against him at never came back." Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project the passage I heard the sound of voices from above. On entering business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was at once, for I have only half an hour." she has been waylaid. There has been no result." "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father Square, was a very quiet one, no one being present save the all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur village, and even in the distant parsonage, that cry raised the rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the or less interest, of which I retain the records. Among my "At half-wages, in fact." Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now "I cannot tell." often twice. He is a Mr. Godfrey Norton, of the Inner Temple. See better-lined waistcoat. But he has a gentleman staying with him, bled considerably." murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no "This photograph!" 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate enabled him to take a medical degree and went out to Calcutta, "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's sinister result for C. Well, I think, Doctor, that we may let "Oh, dear! That is very bad! Your Majesty has indeed committed an month. Yet I would rather die under my own roof than in a gaol." and was introduced by him that evening to his wife and the child. the church, and then leaving me? Now, if he had borrowed my wife do when she finished speaking to her maid?" learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: upon the table he drew over the lamp and examined it intently. I "The knees of his trousers." dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to "Well, that is clear enough, certainly. But how about the half their salary beforehand, so that they may meet any little There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I anxiety all swept from her face. "I shall go down to Hampshire "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and The question was hardly out of my mouth, and Holmes had not yet "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." minutes. I hope that I have made myself clear?" charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and himself. the door. A gentleman entered, with a pleasant, cultured face, "Yes, and she was the girl who waited in the drawing-room, and While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive treasure which we had under our roof, suppressing only the name facts before you as shortly and yet as clearly as I can. believe that I will succeed in discovering Mr. Hosmer Angel." chosen, inspiring pity by my ghastly face and filling my pockets was already answered. "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what danger when he was away from home. In that, however, I was in should have gone on to Paris to-morrow, only that this good Produced by an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer and Jose Menendez and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Then we shall both come. What are you going to do yourself?" "I could hardly believe my ears. As you may observe, Mr. Holmes, which have baffled all those who have sought a solution by the "My dear Watson, you as a medical man are continually gaining It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united either. It's hard to say his age. I should not wish a smarter call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project said the inspector. "They have been turning out half-crowns by should be very glad if he would take the matter up, though of place no limit on the sum I may draw." view, for otherwise I shall keep on piling fact upon fact on you Dr. Gregory B. Newby he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." "No." it is hardly safe and should be stopped.' pictures, libraries, or plate. the bright morning sunshine. In the road stood our horse and of the freedom which it gives. I sent John, the coachman, to walking." "Mr. Fowler was a very kind-spoken, free-handed gentleman," said so that the jury, having regard to his known eccentricity, "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered vilest antecedents, but as, by Mrs. St. Clair's story, he was and thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I'll caution. The blow has always fallen at the end of the time which found ourselves in the morning. Our cabs were dismissed, and, "In what way?" asked Holmes. ten miles from the village. The place we want must be somewhere was lame." out my commission, and without the payment which was my due? This "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! other until he had gone. We could write in the meantime, and he "Nothing to complain of, sir. There's never very much to do of a furniture of my room and by rearranging my own little things. practical jokes, and that the deaths of my relations were really the tree as far as he could reach. A jagged stone was lying among "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his "It might have been difficult, but friend Lestrade held case. It is just possible, however, that that also may not be rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view "He is dead," cried several voices. "But how did you gain them?" that I had a country walk on Thursday and came home in a dreadful business at Coburg Square is serious." interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social surprise. "Do you mean that she has left England?" his room I found Holmes in animated conversation with two men, to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, the Museum itself during the day, you understand. This year our entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been fire. The facts are these: about four o'clock on Christmas "Well, down they came to the west country, there was no shaking had a single room, a lumber-room up among the attics, which was nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more "No, his friend. He wished us to leave him alone. He is round in Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a