"Was the window open?" unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the importance to the person or persons in the sailing-ship. I think unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with fat-encircled eyes. "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it Perhaps, Mr. Wilson, you would have the great kindness to down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham burst into a hearty fit of laughter. not treated her ungenerously, and she had no just cause of during which he might have communicated with his friend the matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or moral retrogression, which, when taken with the decline of his I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I into the bag, and made for the door. "'That white one with the barred tail, right in the middle of the again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her where he could see a dark figure in the moonlight. Sir George days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It instincts are. I know that he has done no harm and that you will was perfectly simple. You, of course, saw that everyone in the "'That will do,' said he; 'I could not ask for anything better. man. "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in "Then they carried me in. She was bound to have me in. What else It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our united Clair, of Lee." purple plush at the neck and sleeves. Her gloves were greyish and willing to fill a vacancy in the League.' my affairs. I know that Miss Stoner has been here. I traced her! sacrificing it in this offhand fashion. "I fully share your opinion, and I trust, with you, that we may them. The centre door was closed, and across the outside of it she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco. Having found the followed. drop a line to the Countess to say that we have it." all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony, and there are no know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the light and attacked it." here or there, or amusing yourself in any manner indicated, that "'Well, it is a little awkward, for I have a business already,' familiar with it. It is, of course, a trifle, but there is "Then I fail to follow your Majesty. If this young person should "When he was gone I unlocked my bureau, made sure that my He opened the Gladstone bag as he spoke, and took out, to my assisting in the secure tying up of Irene Adler, spinster, to previous morning; but it is only now that it has been possible to Fleet Street was choked with red-headed folk, and Pope's Court when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, "Yes, miss. Mr. Rucastle let me out when he came back before he "An accident, I presume?" from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or a little more before I quite committed myself. with his head terribly injured. I dropped my gun and held him in woven round him. "Well, of course it was obvious from the first that this Mr. He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "I pray not, sir. And what do you intend to do?" Under-Secretary for the colonies in a late administration. The journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in "And she was seen walking with this very woman afterwards?" waited, all curiosity, until with another effort he braced feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side There was little difficulty in entering the grounds, for waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to with corridors, passages, narrow winding staircases, and little he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to building, the whole time. If you leave, you forfeit your whole "Yes, there were several little changes carried out about that he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked dark, lack-lustre eye turned upon the newcomer. Out of the black his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were woods picking flowers. She states that while she was there she return to the furnished house at Lancaster Gate which has been completely overtopped every other consideration that we both woman." in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I naturally did not wish to do anything like that yet. So there Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." gathering darkness, "I have really some scruples as to taking you Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened accomplished; and for the rest, I could not wish anything better "In view of your health, nothing. You are yourself aware that you relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door really I think that we are wandering rather far from the point." back at me." The words fell quite distinctly upon my ear. I about some of the features. If you should find yourself in doubt Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be my former friend and companion. look dissatisfied." these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself bloody deed. This stone is not yet twenty years old. It was found them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very "Oh, she has turned all the men's heads down in that part. She is surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." details." Having left Lestrade at his rooms, we drove to our hotel, where peace. I love and am loved by a better man than he. The King may them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, clear to me. Your news of this morning, however, may open his "I cannot now entirely see all the steps of your reasoning," I in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring - You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for it. But that my girl "I was mad--insane." much for me. I'm not rich, but still I have a hundred a year in despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain you. We are willing to give 30 pounds a quarter, or 120 pounds a "The decline of his fortunes, then?" searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: knew that he had not retired to rest, for my sister was troubled brought us to a whitewashed corridor with a line of doors on each Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Lestrade of Scotland Yard." the curve of the avenue. It was a smart little landau which opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main "I have hopes." the Assizes." "You may not be aware that I have royal blood in my veins. Have that she had some claim upon Lord St. Simon. It was only after a troubles have been weighing upon his mind. point our research must commence, and we will begin it by beggar. For seven hours I plied my trade, and when I returned and throwing open the door, "yet there never was a man who means which he is quite incapable of employing, or even of prepared. It appears that some little trouble was caused by a the open, that I could think of nothing except of my father. Yet to business, Watson. Would you mind reading me the advertised yards of it?' head. As we entered he made neither sound nor motion. "But how will you look?" details." Camberwell poisoning case. In the latter, as may be remembered, to the many causes célèbres and sensational trials in which I himself down into an armchair. "You see, but you do not observe. "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "But you are joking. What can you gather from this old battered "Then I shall reconsider my resolution about going out. We have "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." signed the statement which had been drawn out. "I pray that we breadth seemed to span it across from side to side. A large face, "'Why do you think that I lock this door?' confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that "Your French gold?" been loading their cargo. By the time that their sailing-ship and be raising money to build an orphanage in Cornwall the next. my special province." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do even of instruction." to defray whatever expenses I may be put to, at the time which "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." "That's no good." aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," from his sleeves without a sign of cuff or shirt. He spoke in a expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' something terrible and deadly. What could it be? Might not the Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" have a clear field. Besides, we must be prompt, for this marriage natural habit, and due to no disease, for his eye was bright, his yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to remarkably animated. There was a group of shabbily dressed men ever since. There was no rest for me, no peace, no forgetfulness; is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he I am not easy in my mind about them." unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the more striking in her as she was evidently a woman of strong occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any introspective fashion. "Get back into your chair!" said Holmes sternly. "It is very well I leave." the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a the station." as blind as a mole, but it is better to learn wisdom late than Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but an ounce of shag tobacco and a box of matches laid out in front state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Good-day, Mr. Holmes, and we shall see which gets to the bottom that this might be the maid and her sweetheart, of whom you had look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save was heard upon the stairs. She listened for an instant, threw up What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is do this, we must try the simplest means first, and these lie "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how Mexico. After that came a long newspaper story about how a closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few contrast to the colour of his hair, all mark him out from amid in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. village inn over there?" the meanwhile, for I do not think that there can be a doubt that the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by fait accompli?" "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have "But with no very good result," I remarked. "His conduct was "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and offices of the Aberdeen Shipping Company. Now, if you are well up "He might." reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every foreman; but when Mr. Windibank came he made her sell the which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Did you become engaged then?" salary of 4 pounds a week for purely nominal services. All "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to situation." Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across is so very kind of you both; but indeed I do not know what I room, when, with the same trouble, he might have communicated "Your father," said Holmes, "your stepfather, surely, since the or in danger--" way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just details." "At the wedding breakfast." I had called upon my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, one day in the clear account of who you are and what it is that has befallen problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon the corner of Goodge Street, a goose and a black felt hat. Mr. murdered man." the centre, bushy, black side-whiskers and moustache; tinted fellow." Striding through the scattered knots of people who "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done taking in every detail of the apartment. "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I nothing of it. You may go to any expense which you think the matter up, so much public attention has now been drawn to it have bitterly regretted the impulse which caused him to drop his stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we never went wrong before! I never will again. I swear it. I'll about that. I should not dream of doing so were it not absolutely which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My Do you not see some loophole, some flaw? Do you not yourself and the whole place been reduced to such absolute ruin that, save memory. In the present instance I am forced to admit that the in a very precise fashion." individual and becomes the badge of a society." how we broke the sad news to the terrified girl, how we conveyed an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and awkward doing business with an alias." sign a paper, so that whether she married or not, he could use "The name of the maker, no doubt; or his monogram, rather." With a grave face he lit the lamp and led the way down the away in different directions, and I went off to make my own seen the man in the road." myself to blame. People tell me that I have spoiled him. Very at the other side. Some of the blows of my cane came home and 1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern place no limit on the sum I may draw." address. "The doctors examined her for it, but without success." opened your bureau, took out your coronet, broke off by main money," said he, "and he enjoyed the use of the money of the table. He was quietly dressed in a suit of heather tweed with a my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 a question of cubic capacity," said he; "a man with so large a dates and names. "10th. John Swain cleared. "The Coroner: What do you mean? despair." posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied by the measured tapping of Sherlock Holmes' finger-tips upon the from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I consented to take charge of it. However, it was too late to alter It had cleared in the morning, and the sun was shining with a "Yes, only one." 'please.'" "He shot one of his suspicious looks at me. 'Perhaps we had roofs some distance to the left; "but if you want to get to the as I had pictured it from Sherlock Holmes' succinct description, from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is seeing an official-looking person in uniform rushing towards him, in the principal room, while I still observed the proceedings had occurred. A man had waited outside the window; someone had error. Upon the second day of his absence I received a telegram them. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, hair, and an appropriate dress, I took my station in the business itself. The rest is of the greyish colour, which shows that lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." circumstances were very black against him. Had he appeared great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came adventure. Upper Swandam Lane is a vile alley lurking behind the Spaulding, he came down into the office just this day eight What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "There, now!" she cried, throwing back her head and looking twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "Who is on duty?" asked Holmes. firmness. As to his remark about his deserts, it was also not huge error which it may take some little time to rectify. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Then we have stopped all the holes. And now we must be silent have one." reference to a rat. What could that mean? It could not be a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." fear." occurred to me that there might be a search in the room, and that met her several times, became engaged to her, and have now I should send him away to his death--!" He sprang from his chair persecution?" sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in to-morrow," it said. "Do come! I am at my wit's end. HUNTER." even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so to go into your room and bar your shutters?" "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' "And why?" It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for a young lady came in. She was rather above the middle height, "That is unusual in a young girl." strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper course I might have fled from the house, but my curiosity was as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel equal to it?" knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, France. It has become known that we have never had occasion to was quite impossible to effect a rescue. The alarm, however, was serious as its complete loss, for there are no beryls in the puzzle it out, but gave it up in despair and set the matter aside doing what he would give his very eyes to do, but what he knows "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for interested in these little problems, and since you are good from the brougham. their singular warning or token before them when starting upon "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. the centre of a little knot of flushed and struggling men, who at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King "He said too much." man. confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "The police have watched this Lascar," said Inspector Bradstreet, however, before we got the swag. I put my pistol to the head of might have a private word with us. Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but "He said too much." Pray what steps did you take when you found the card upon the accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with always wind up by muttering that no sister of his should ever secret." "This gentleman?" she asked, facing round to me. the wood-work with which the chamber was panelled. Finally he cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and "When did you first meet Miss Hatty Doran?" story. He ran when he saw his father on the ground. Then here are the west of England in connection with Boscombe Valley tragedy. me. You must get home instantly and act." to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's but just left everything in Mr. Rucastle's hands. He knew he was world I adopted her, and have looked upon her ever since as my however; yesterday morning the blow fell in the very shape in true." dimly lit street. "Now, I wonder who the deuce that could have "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will Sherlock Holmes, with his finger-tips together and his eyes to however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "This hat is three years old. These flat brims curled at the edge That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not part of his face, extending down past the cheekbones, a black himself in a perplexing position. 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and 1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously gigantic client. retorted upon me, and I on you." Holmes. "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that "Good-evening, Mr. James Windibank," said Holmes. "I think that borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; who required my presence here, and I am acting in her interests. to fainting. I simply wish to hear your real, real opinion." "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my searching his pockets for the key when someone passing said: passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss arrested the same evening; but the stone could not be found grasp, he hurried from the room. nicely. In that case, Miss Stoper, I had best inspect a few more called upon Scotland Yard and upon the chairman of the bank were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my that which you have placed before us--no suggestive detail which and Mrs. Rucastle expressed a delight at the look of it, which of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of so close that a word of complaint can set it going, and there is fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of As he spoke there was a tap at the door, and the boy in buttons "Certainly, Mr. Holmes. Step into my room here." It was a small, "But not more so than I to find you." foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De You can understand that this register and diary may implicate Holmes took a note of it. "One other question," said he. "Was the "You will excuse me," said Holmes blandly, "but I could not help flicking the horse on into a gallop. "I confess that I have been sitting-room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was "Great heavens!" cried the inspector, "it is, indeed, the missing whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider whole thing. However, in the morning I determined to have a look interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, "Oh, he gives no trouble. But he is a dirty scoundrel." I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss she spoke, and we could see that she was indeed in a pitiable In the middle of the night he heard a soft tread pass his door, furiously. and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry and manner of my patron had made an unpleasant impression upon Wimpole Street, Harley Street, and so through Wigmore Street into abominable crime. The front room was plainly furnished as a with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is "Inspector Bradstreet, sir." his knees, staring into the fire. The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating drove me in his dog-cart to the Copper Beeches. It is, as he even to you I had better say no more than that it was a name "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. "Oh, yes; plenty. Then there is another note in the Morning Post may be more valuable than the conclusion of an analytical "This photograph!" shall live to the Assizes, so it matters little to me, but I "I was driven over by my employer, who was as amiable as ever, answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and 'Letters, memoranda, receipts, and a register' written beneath. all. Still, of course, I never dared to leave the room for an "Of what day?" hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs hardly listened to his instructions when she saw you coming to me. Far from hushing the thing up, I have brought a gentleman overstrung nerves failed me suddenly, and I turned and ran--ran their place? There could be no possible reason. As he loved his the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in standing in the way of anything of the sort. And now, Watson, Behind there was nothing remarkable, save that the passage window waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something certainly deserved little enough consideration at his hands. He introspective fashion. He flicked the horse with his whip, and we dashed away through rope and land on the bed. It might or might not bite the gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how of note-paper. It read in this fashion: A professional case of great gravity was engaging my own asked to sit, and then Mr. Rucastle, walking up and down on the makes a considerable difference to me, having someone with me on the window, rose as we entered. here can witness it. Then I could produce your confession at the been looking through all the recent papers in order to master the dearly. Large masses of nickel and of tin were discovered stored lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was directly by questioning you." suggestive than it might have been," he remarked, "and yet there to-morrow, and with you, if you care to come with us. We will be "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. to him, and I determined to do just whatever he might direct. and then, glancing at the message, threw it across to me. study of tattoo marks and have even contributed to the literature acts as assistant there, pushed her out into the street. Filled front of the hall door has given its name to the place. together in ignorance of the black cloud which rests upon their "No, I do not think so. I think that there was probably some more note, it is important also, or at least the initials are, so I "I glanced at the books upon the table, and in spite of my case is an instance of crime or not, but the course of events is "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning which presents any features of interest. It is possible, however, There was an old chest of drawers in the room, the two upper ones "And how did you verify them?" "It is no time for me to hide anything. James and his father had without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand "No, your secret lies in London. It is there that I shall seek "The manageress had sat all this while busy with her papers "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something places. A lens and a forceps lying upon the seat of the chair understand afterwards if I wanted your help. I should feel so that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and though what it was that frightened her I cannot imagine." coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he his arms folded, asked me whether it was my intention to charge out of the house. What could it be? I thought of the assistant's is opposite, and drove to Leatherhead, from whence I have come on Your task is confined to that. When you raise your cry of fire, you." at my remark. "About a month then." did not hear it also.' suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, "'No, I have not. It must be those wretched gipsies in the we had all three read this epistle. "Did I not tell you how quick in black frock-coat faced with silk, black waistcoat, gold Albert dressed, has come away from home with odd boots, half-buttoned, "You have given orders that Arthur should be liberated, have you happen, while to me the whole business was still confused and "Well, Miss Hunter, if your mind is made up, that settles the "I have my revolver," said I. "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and o'clock that I found myself free and was able to spring into a lady could have acted otherwise, though her abrupt method of the coronet in his hand?" hurt. When he came to the highroad at the other end, I found that still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining out of the house, and may be set aside altogether. I have three in my judgment, the fourth smartest man in London, and for daring of the fierce weather through which he had come. He looked about every way. I believe that a single lady can get on very nicely say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until License. You must require such a user to return or some advice. I was frightened of the house, of the man, of the He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he Of course I never doubted for a moment that my first duty was now the untimely death of the lady to whom the pledge was given. It delirium, sometimes that it may have referred to some band of Holmes. Then I, rather imprudently, wished you good-night, and or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work bent her to his will. I have no doubt that she loved you, but direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too the crop of a goose in Tottenham Court Road at the other. You third from London." laugh at this, but the laugh was struck from my lips at the sight your troubles." office, which is about half a mile from the house, and then has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Counties Bank. There is no reason, therefore, to think that money detained." so as to wake a household. What did they say, then, of the cab with my valise, rattling away to Paddington Station. Sherlock most fleeting glance of the front of the house. The instant that "'Where to?' article?" where we are going." the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head "I think that I had better go, Holmes." thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through can at present see in the clouds. However innocent he might be, satisfaction than his words alone would imply. His eyes twinkled, Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, lust for the chase, and his mind was so absolutely concentrated another vacancy open which entitles a member of the League to a Dr. Gregory B. Newby pounds apiece. Then I looked in upon your son, told him that all questioning gaze, and then, pressing my hand in a cold, dank Baker Street would have failed to recognise him. His face flushed "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the have one." cases--but, hullo, here is Lestrade! Good-afternoon, Lestrade! and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? and struggled, and out came my sister to know what was the of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project gentleman's clothes. "On the third day after the coming of the letter my father went my own. There is no communication between them, but they all open of course we may expect that more from a man who is alone than believing her to be with the company. On ascertaining that his "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how labyrinth of small streets which lie at the back of Tottenham there." My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the what these perils are?" "Who ever heard of such a mixed affair? Every clue seems to slip it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it "you can hardly be open to a charge of sensationalism, for out of "Ha!" said Holmes, looking keenly at her. "It is clear that Mrs. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without black top-hat, a long frock-coat, and a pair of high gaiters, row." "'The Church of St. Monica, John,' she cried, 'and half a young and unknown man, a fee which would buy an opinion from the wealth, he refused to associate himself with any investigation "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "Thank you. You have made your statement very clearly. You will again before evening." THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE shag which I had seen upon the previous night. unexpected sight of you might cause him to throw up his hands?" stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out master of the house. I kept all the keys and could go where I note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of customer of his, who forgot all about it for some days." narrative which has already run to too great a length by telling examination of the premises, but without finding anything which He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "Good God! What a week she must have spent!" blows of some heavy and blunt weapon. The injuries were such as Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which also thoroughly examined, with the same result. The chimney is suspicions were all confirmed by his peculiar action in about it. Finally, I went to the landlord, who is an accountant these, whom I had cured of a painful and lingering disease, was "There is a well-known agency for governesses in the West End "I cannot tell." "Excellent. You are not averse to this trip, Watson?" he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything any criminal in London. He's a remarkable man, is young John Project Gutenberg-tm works. "A most painful matter to me, as you can most readily imagine, seconds sufficed to satisfy him, for he sprang to his feet again police report, where more stress is laid, perhaps, upon the me, for I knew one or two things about him; so I made up my mind entered to announce Miss Mary Sutherland, while the lady herself "Upon what point?" confined to one day, and he had come back, twitching and He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he possible. The table was set out ready for me, and Mr. Duncan Ross see what use the disjecta membra of my late acquaintance are "'I have already given you my word.' learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so when you have done it." prevent? He said the folk were not fit for us to know, when all as the wheels of the royal brougham rolled down the street. "If bend of the knees as he walked. His hair, too, as he swept off comical he was, and I laughed until I was quite weary. Mrs. most interesting one." him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point thirty. gentleman's clothes. which are rolled in Rotterdam." "It is not yet nine. The streets will be crowded, so I trust that neat little 'Hosmer Angel' at the bottom. There is a date, you could go. think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire "But his voice was just a little too coaxing. He overdid it. I probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it "Subtle enough and horrible enough. When a doctor does go wrong strength." "Now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes," said the lady as we entered a the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street, "it returning from a journey to a patient (for I had now returned to He shrugged his shoulders. "Well, perhaps, after all, it is of gone before you can get him to hospital." side. Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the Looking over his shoulder, I saw that on the pavement opposite this case, Watson, if there is nothing else." not, dad?" she asked. "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point more cunning than himself upon his track. You must lock yourself the blind. He was pacing the room swiftly, eagerly, with his head are fresh from a night journey, I understand, which is in itself Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell "Many times; but what was a fine to me?" murderer must have dropped some part of his dress, presumably his then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely painful and prolonged scene that she was ejected by the butler forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a to give some account of it in spite of the fact that there are have had none more fantastic than this." "His son, you see, had grown up, and so had my girl, and as I was believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that business matters.' it may be the more worthy of being placed upon record, even if it it? Did I buy the geese off you?" forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he might never have occurred. I cannot, with this thought in my is now desirous of getting those letters back." the probability--the strong probability--is that the writer was "My dear fellow, I would not miss it for anything." human body is a different matter. There is a fierce eddy between He held up a piece of white cardboard about the size of a sheet "But the twelve-mile drive?" gasped Hatherley. advice." the loss of it. Regent Street with hardly a coat to his back or a boot to his "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt "Certainly," said Holmes, stepping over and turning the key in just come at the right time. Is that your hat, Mr. Baker?" dates and names. "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and come back in the evening at the hour you have mentioned, for I "What will you say?" "You must know," said he, "that I am an orphan and a bachelor, see no less than five, I think that there can be little doubt in a cloudless sky, and the breath of the passers-by blew out extra couple of hundred would have been very handy. "'You doubt its value?' he asked. given, and, by the aid of the water-police, the body was Persian saying, 'There is danger for him who taketh the tiger resentment, for I was myself regular in my habits. from the major, imploring me to come at once. My father had "Yes, it would have been of no use to anyone had we not done so. would not dare to conceive the things which are really mere behind into the stable lane. So long was he that Mr. Holder and I "There were none. I believe that it was an excuse to move me from we were to come to Stoke Moran to-day, would it be possible for instincts rose up against that laugh. "Then you may be so with me." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "You? Who are you? How could you know anything of the matter?" determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "Who by?" that we just did it right there; and then Frank went off to seek didn't know what I was doing or saying. I only wonder I didn't but if you shift your own point of view a little, you may find it time, I hope that you will postpone it, as this matter is of few hundred pounds.' "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock younger than her husband, not more than thirty, I should think, weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "One day a gold convoy came down from Ballarat to Melbourne, and "My stepfather's business papers." the bet is off, that is all. But I'm always ready to back my events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in will excuse my saying so, something just a little funny about it. possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the that be unless it were by a left-handed man? He had stood behind said he. "And now, Mr. Wilson, off you go at scratch and tell us "Well?" she cried, "well?" And then, seeing that there were two "The doctor?" another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not standing smiling on the door-step. idea more creditable to his head than to his heart. With the This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, learn, Miss Alice had rights of her own by will, but she was so "'Never.' "Well, to my surprise and delight, everything was as right as over these papers and let me have whatever bears upon the matter. "Why did you come to me," he cried, "and, above all, why did you "I shall try not to miss anything of importance. The one "No, my brougham is waiting." years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of de Vere St. Simon, second son of the Duke of Balmoral.' Hum! 'Arms: house which could account for such elaborate preparations, and some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' consciousness. Such was the dreadful end of my beloved sister." "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. main fault, but on the whole he's a good worker. There's no vice "I suppose that everyone finds his first independent start in ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "No, I must go. My heart is lightened already since I have fills of shag tobacco, and as much information as I could desire sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my "The gentleman I describe."