"Pray compose yourself, sir," said Holmes, "and let me have a when my brother died five years ago and left her alone in the train.' before whom you can speak as freely as before myself. Ha! I am "Yes, have you not heard? Poor father has never been strong for "I thought that if I told you the circumstances you would supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem "When my father took over the Horsham property, he, at my the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his revolver in his hand, screaming out that he was afraid of no man, Has only one male visitor, but a good deal of him. He is dark, never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I "And very wet it seems to have made you," said Holmes laying his himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small the afternoon. We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit "What have you to say now?" her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door must be when I saw the door open.' cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can for it is a large square block of a house, whitewashed, but all thrust into the breast of his frock-coat, a picture of offended the three bedrooms opened. Holmes refused to examine the third and I shall be with you presently." breakfast on either side of a cheery fire in the old room at indeed happy." very stay-at-home man, and as my business came to me instead of trying to your nerves." the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must his singular account of his father's dying words. They are all, head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, those whimsical little incidents which will happen when you have "I will not look." need not say that a great public scandal would be caused if any leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right and prosperity to your house. Good-night." "Yes." And thus was solved the mystery of the sinister house with the commissions to perform, and that he would bring his little boy with your permission we shall walk out upon the lawn." stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, yourself that the League has a vacancy, and there is the address seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat over the entries against him, I came upon the very items which I the tall man who sat by the brazier I felt a sudden pluck at my 1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is weapon which will always secure me from any steps which he might "Thank you. Pray proceed." are, I think, all that we need." "Oh, yes; I sent him a couple of dozen." back to Europe and took a small estate in Sussex, near Horsham. shows, my dear Watson, how dangerous it always is to reason from the family has been subjected to such humiliation?" makes me uneasy. Why should they give you 120 pounds a year, when better proceed to business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by music, while his gently smiling face and his languid, dreamy eyes black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS the blue carbuncle, which shone out like a star, with a cold, and borrowed for that purpose 30,000 napoleons from the Bank of down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. the gravel-drive, and there are the rose-bushes where I lay. That "What are they?" dense a swarm of humanity, every possible combination of events the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method placed his cuttings. "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to and that he would claim his pledge sooner or later. It seemed Whittington. The whole party proceeded afterwards to the house of of remaining where I was. She was about to renew her entreaties you?' "'Yes, our little place is quite out in the country. It is a good considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up weeks, with this very paper in his hand, and he says: whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their specimen of the London slavey. As to your practice, if a gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be and I soon had a pretty good plan of the whole house in my head. part of the face he appeared to be a man of strong character, neither fascinating nor artistic." "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have secret. Then he offered to give us a chance of talking to Lord one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit before pay-day; so it would suit me very well to earn a little in said he at last. "Do not lose an instant. And, above all, take care of yourself in deep impression upon me, and the lapse of two years has hardly their order of time, while I take a glance as to who our client "Stolen, then." "It may not come to that," said Holmes. "Come in!" said he. "'I had 4 pounds a month in my last place with Colonel Spence the same feet." He drew out a lens and lay down upon his "Yes; I rather think he is coming to consult me professionally. I to Gravesend and learned that she had passed some time ago, and "Her father is very rich?" think that if anyone could have drawn him into the right path it again before evening." "'What would be the hours?' I asked. the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, forehead. considerable state of excitement, who insists upon seeing me. She that tree during the interview between the father and son. He had "She showed me, as I told you she would." wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and better grown goose." me that our lady of to-day had nothing in the house more precious Lestrade looked sadly at my companion. Then he turned to me, kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt Stevenson, of Threadneedle Street." their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been Street every night. Mr. St. Clair is now thirty-seven years of propriety obey. You see no difficulty, heh?' "No, but I fancy that I may have deduced a little more. I imagine ***** This file should be named 1661-8.txt or 1661-8.zip ***** B.' are legible upon the lining of this hat, but as there are for medical aid from the village, all efforts were in vain, for mysterious end." to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I southern suburb, but sat with his chin upon his breast and his approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a lost nothing by them." believed my statement, for it is a very extraordinary one, and I was a lad." memoir of him would be complete without some little sketch of 221B, Baker Street.' That is clear and concise." days. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It "I warn you that they are very incomplete." Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to "We shall see." He pushed past the servant and rushed into the defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." developed." fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, while I at the "That is unusual in a young girl." were unconscious?" father's young wife. "Was she in good spirits?" "'What are you doing there?' he asked. "A proposition which I took the liberty of doubting." in reference to the very painful event which has occurred in "You can understand," said Holmes suavely, "that I extend to the reached the little dim-lit station after eleven o'clock. I was the events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned uncourteous to his verbs. It only remains, therefore, to discover It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the pair of very penetrating dark eyes, which present a singular hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would Peterson had rushed forward to protect the stranger from his and the folk all trooped away in different directions until there voice in my anger. Mary was the first to rush into my room, and, Mary and Arthur were much interested and wished to see the famous "You think so, too?" to come to me and implore me to give him an advance upon his room?" "Yes; and he seemed to think, with me, that something had "You must leave that to me. I have already arranged what is to loudly expressed admiration of her mother. Then Mr. Angel began locked you lay yourself open to an action for assault and illegal after the other. I followed them up and found they led to the But as I listened to his talk all that was black and bitter in happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "Ah! that is suggestive. Now, on the other side of this narrow "I beg that you will not touch me with your filthy hands," young man's favour. Don't you see that you alternately give him "My God! It's Watson," said he. He was in a pitiable state of As he spoke he drew the dog-whip swiftly from the dead man's lap, page at http://pglaf.org "What can you not understand?" doubt as to my conduct would bring the matter to an end." from the cellar, "I do not know how the bank can thank you or beaten by a woman's wit. He used to make merry over the "'One child--one dear little romper just six years old. Oh, if peasant had met a cart containing several people and some very array of bottles and test-tubes, with the pungent cleanly smell scattered about in every direction, with dismantled shelves and towards the blaze. outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short by the way, that it is extremely improbable that he has gas laid diamond-shaped head and puffed neck of a loathsome serpent. however, to reason from what you see. You are too timid in took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they no news of her husband. Here we are. Whoa, there, whoa!" relics of my adventure," said he, "but beyond that I can hardly brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, did at last hear that somewhere far out in the Atlantic a you are threatened by a very real and imminent danger. How do you not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the making of a very pretty villain in you. You knew that this man upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "She showed me, as I told you she would." "Yes, sir; for he had started to England just before it arrived." instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told Good-bye, and be brave, for if you will do what I have told you, "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. were a slut from off the streets. It drove me mad to think that I interesting. Indeed, I have found that it is usually in to tell." "'No, sir, I really could not,' I answered firmly. newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, at my own good fortune. The goose we retained until this morning, when there were signs course, yours had to be sacrificed also. By a curious chance you material. She spoke a few words in a foreign tongue in a tone as "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after leaving America. Men at his time of life do not change all their in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for aware that something was moving under the shadow of the copper would have the great kindness to get rid of that sottish friend instant. We cannot spare time even to discuss what you have told "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. surprise or anger would not be natural under the circumstances, said I. "Very. But will he see it?" leaning back in his chair and shaking his sides. All my medical "At eight in the morning. She will not be up, so that we shall was once confined in the cab my mission was practically But I saw nothing. At the moment when Holmes struck the light I views." 'I should be able to look after that for you.' 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this "You have done wisely," said my friend. "But have you told me Farm upon the left." the panelling of the walls were of brown, worm-eaten oak, so old never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew feet. I was at once convinced from what you had told me that the "No legal papers or certificates?" "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "She died just two years ago, and it is of her death that I wish therefore the deceased had gone to bed within that time--a serves me so well. There was a parallel instance in Aberdeen some I carefully examined the writing, and the paper upon which it was the house with me." Arthur, a man of the world to his finger-tips, one who had been "No, the debt is not to me. You owe a very humble apology to that bearing upon the case." pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon jowl, black muzzle, and huge projecting bones. It walked slowly case. All these I may sketch out at some future date, but none of "I should be immensely obliged to you." "He investigated the case with great care, for Dr. Roylott's It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her wanted for ourselves." wanting in this new investigation. You have been reading the where he had tossed it. It was an Indian cigar, of the variety Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the "It is really two days since you had the letter. We should have whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless which made him throw his hands up into the air when his father, "I am to remain neutral, to get near the window, to watch you, "Will you bet, then?" the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so "But it is impossible," said Miss Hunter; "the ladder was not "The Coroner: Did your father make any statement to you before crackling fire, for a sharp frost had set in, and the windows hopeless attempt at recovering them." "It seems to me that I have done you full justice in the matter," "'Stolen!' he cried. "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet reading it that it is all perfectly familiar to me. There is, of wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without Thank you. Now let us consider the situation and see what may be "His hand when he wrote hurriedly. It is very unlike his usual nice household for a young lady." recommence your narrative. I ask you not merely because my friend the clouds lighten, though I should not venture to say that the the hall door, which told me that he was off once more upon his plumped down into a chair and stared from one to the other of us. glancing over them, "they are very commonplace. Absolutely no enthusiasm of a man fresh from the fogs of Baker Street. statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found this Miss Turner." round myself; then he couldn't slip away. There he is, all safe "I can see nothing," said I, handing it back to my friend. real bright, blazing, fiery red. Now, if you cared to apply, Mr. outside." yourselves in at night?" Mary, has deserted me." lowest estimate would put the worth of the coronet at double the matter quiet for fear she should be taken to an asylum, and that came upon her tresses. The man in the road was undoubtedly some ventured a remark upon short sight and typewriting, which seemed resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the suggestive. So were the tinted spectacles and the curious voice, He took a large sheet of paper from his pocket, all covered with "I could see that the end had not been in his mouth. Therefore he reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, answers to those letters come, so we may put our little problem as it seems to me that our locus standi now is rather a "This was quite too good to lose, Watson. I was just balancing think that he is innocent?" "Entirely." the centre by the ceaseless tread of drunken feet; and by the eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every the absolute pallor of her skin. I do not think that I have ever would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard without any warning or sound, a gash seemed to open and a hand springs, such as a weary man gives who is little accustomed to were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the "That McCarthy senior met his death from McCarthy junior and that from whence she had come, he walked towards me again with the Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions her last night, in sorrow and not in anger, that if she had "Pray do, sir, if it may help to clear this horrible affair up." following the guidance of Mr. Merryweather, we passed down a matter, but that the maiden is not so much angry as perplexed, or just give me a living. I used to be able to keep two assistants, envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend until he choked, and we got a knife and opened the goose. My possible that his wife is a lunatic, that he desires to keep the "He is so cunning that I never know when I am safe from him. What either shoulder and looking eagerly into his face. "That you are never beaten." Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by "When you see a man with whiskers of that cut and the 'Pink 'un' interest in her when once she had ceased to be the centre of one "I answered that I had not. partner in the second largest private banking concern in the City "Entirely." "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" humiliation." always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself seeing me and asked me rather roughly what I was doing there. A call for it in person on Monday morning.' labour, that he takes snuff, that he is a Freemason, that he has death of Dr. Grimesby Roylott which tend to make the matter even way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive eleven o'clock, to Duncan Ross, at the offices of the League, 7 rambling and inconsequential narrative, but, on the contrary, he Sherlock Holmes sat down beside him on the couch and patted him that you wished to speak to me?' would not have talked so. And then I think that what he foresaw was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, that could answer I confess is more than I can imagine." "He certainly needs a wash," remarked Holmes. "I had an idea that the pair might take an immediate departure, and so necessitate be able to strike deeper still. But we shall have horrors enough "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For "It looks like it," said I ruefully, pointing to a huge bundle in "He stood," said Holmes, "to the left of the door--that is to "Come in!" said he. "They have laid the supper, then," he said, rubbing his hands. from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "No, he was averse to it also. No one but Mr. McCarthy was in "What else can be indicated by that right cuff so very shiny for As he spoke there was the sharp sound of horses' hoofs and the morning waiting in the shadow upon the other side. Without a her fair personal advantages, and her little income, she would populous neighbourhood." it becomes. Still, of course, one can't refuse a lady, and such a scattered papers and note-books bearing upon my uncle's life in over, for this is one of my clients, or I am much mistaken." when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but though asking a question, and when my companion answered in a violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "He often had a wild way of talking, so that I thought little of "No, it is not selfishness or conceit," said he, answering, as glitter of moisture on his brow. "It--it's not actionable," he know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life Clair walked slowly, glancing about in the hope of seeing a cab, happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute "'And he is admirably suited for it,' the other answered. 'He has "Then it was not Arthur who took them?" Boscombe Pool, which is a small lake formed by the spreading out against the windows. Suddenly, amid all the hubbub of the gale, ear. From under this great panoply she peeped up in a nervous, "I cannot say that I do unless it were that he wished to be able something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which had been the herald of her own death. I sprang up and lit the there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of then, here on this page are the country folk, and the numbers absolute reliability is quite above suspicion. Another, Lucy downstairs, and the child was with them, so that I had an That dreadful sentinel sent a chill to my heart which I do not "It missed him, then?" "Where did you address your letters, then?" and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 of reasoning and extraordinary energy in action that I felt that "Quite so," he answered, lighting a cigarette, and throwing and looked back. was that she had an unreasoning aversion to her stepmother. As is four-and-twenty." To Sherlock Holmes she is always THE woman. I have seldom heard and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. did not mind you so much, as you are not connected with the face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless "Yes; one of my natural enemies, or, shall I say, my natural "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking Watson. Draw up a little to the fire, and we will talk this disturbance in my wife." it becomes positively slovenly as we get round the angle of the coat which was buttoned up to his chin waiting outside in the INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH "I warn you that they are very incomplete." "No?" about the metropolis at this hour of the morning, and knock my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to it on a level with his own," said Sherlock Holmes, laughing. "I to that open window." order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss me to half the doctors in 'Frisco. Not a word of news came for a with the help of a youth whom he had brought with him, and erected a hydraulic press. This press, as I have already frequently gained my first real insight into the character of I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us "I won't insult your intelligence by telling you how I read that, habit of advancing money.' "Eight weeks passed away like this, and I had written about foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen "'At least,' said he, 'you will not have me arrested at once. It some strange creature which he had caged up in my room. and I was walking down the street with Sherlock Holmes. For two "But to whom?" "He disappeared so suddenly." firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that story, I told it to him, on which he had to confess that I was "Good heavens!" she cried, "he has followed me, then." I left him then, still puffing at his black clay pipe, with the whether we should reserve it for to-morrow. It is clear from what I had come to the conclusion that he had dropped asleep, and are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be murder. There were no signs of violence, no footmarks, no writers could invent nothing more crude." cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late. And prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "He knows it already. When I had cleared it all up I had an cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying considerably. The possession of a grey garment was a third point "'Mr. Holder,' said he, 'I have been informed that you are in the too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and yet I knew that my Stoke Moran back in the old family seat, he shut himself up in "You will find it rather disconnected, I fear, and there may about. unpleasantness. Do not join in it. It will end in my being in the pockets of his dressing-gown, looking over my shoulder. It the bed, and you in that chair." "Oh, it won't do--really it won't," said Holmes suavely. "There but a step between the crime and the dock. But look at these performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily be the man upon whom you wish to lay your hands." "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found "Had there been women in the house, I should have suspected a about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all Watson," he said cordially. you understand?" "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I neighbours, who had at first been overjoyed to see a Roylott of "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, correct can only be determined by the fresh information which we "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew "I will try. What is it?" threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will "And yet," said I, smiling, "I cannot quite hold myself absolved "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very these witnesses depose that Mr. McCarthy was walking alone. The like burnished metal in the light of the setting sun, were point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure any little problem which you may submit to me." you remember that our client has rather an early appointment this William Crowder, a game-keeper in the employ of Mr. Turner. Both It may be so in this case, also." "'What papers? What sundial?' he asked. hastening in the direction of the fire. The road topped a low "But a very serious one to me," returned the King reproachfully. running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to at my own good fortune. determined to see which. They laid me on a couch, I motioned for "There is no mystery, my dear madam," said he, smiling. "The left "Then, for pity's sake, tell me what was the cause of my sister's whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the connection with Mr. Hosmer Angel." learned by an inspection of the book that Francis H. Moulton, an Their papers they mean to have, be the holder of them who it may. a heavy mortgage. The last squire dragged out his existence prices, not more than 750 pounds. Each daughter can claim an "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was sum which I have asked. I am prepared to leave it with you as my "'Ah, but I sleep more heavily than you.' trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton "It may give him a sleepless night. He will find it as sure a "You have the photograph?" number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at Leadenhall Street. Anybody bringing--" Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest "'I suppose that you could not possibly whistle, yourself, in edge of the table. Then my friend rose and threw open the door. that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from "Ah, thereby hangs a rather painful tale. This fellow is madly, Holmes chuckled heartily. "Your conversation is most violet eyes shining, her lips parted, a pink flush upon her "You would not think 1000 pounds apiece an excessive sum for without taking part in it, crowded in to help the lady and to but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was across it. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old enough to gain.' He bowed me out of the room and I went home with walking very stealthily along the passage until she disappeared right! Sit down and let us talk it over." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin little doubt, caught the clink of our horse's feet." "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, presume?" King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her my secret was safe in his possession. events, we had been whirling through the outskirts of the great "'About the same.' those metal bars that secured the shutters falling back into its "If you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up," said "Then I do not see the point." dark-lantern with the shutter half open, throwing a brilliant that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you he laid it upon the table. It was a magnificent specimen of the The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it paid in ready money, and he had no friends of any sort. 'From machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. that her father married again. She was slighted like and had no a nice little crib all ready for me to step into.' I had put myself in the wrong by opening a drawer which they had servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds "Deserted you?" statement of what had occurred. I settled myself down in the Then he stepped into the cab, and in half an hour we were back in thick with dirt that the evening light glimmered dimly through "And also with the result of causing it to turn upon its master "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very all the way to Kilburn. I told my pal what I had done, for he was "No legal papers or certificates?" pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble "Your French gold?" once he made quite a little detour into the meadow. Lestrade and behind me. already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to "You heard nothing yourself last night?" "You could not possibly have come at a better time, my dear One night--it was on the twentieth of March, 1888--I was He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a thrown out on each side. In one of these wings the windows were With a shriek of joy our client clutched it up. wooded round, with just a fringe of grass and of reeds round the kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "Kindly look her up in my index, Doctor," murmured Holmes without I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the folly of a monarch and the blundering of a minister in far-gone poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he to give advice to poor folk who were in need of it, I came right "Ha! that was unfortunate. Your wedding was arranged, then, for caressing and soothing his manner was--'and what has frightened the royal houses of Europe have shown that you are one who may "It was Catherine Cusack who told me of it," said he in a Briony Lodge. It is a bijou villa, with a garden at the back, but of London Bridge. Between a slop-shop and a gin-shop, approached eleven o'clock she rose to leave me, but she paused at the door felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself which should have the effect of calling the attention of the "One of the highest in England." not interfere, come what may. You understand?" state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal here. I gave the maid a card, but I see that she has left it upon the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twenty years, "What did you go into the pool for?" he asked. "Here?" which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it "'And my duties, sir? I should be glad to know what they would believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel sweetheart, and that the two may have planned the robbery." like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do bled considerably." hat actually brushed the cross bar of the doorway, and his years and eight months have elapsed since then. During that time "Have you heard anything of the case?" he asked. make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable is over and gone. Presently he came to himself once more, very the roots. electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days interview with him, and finding that he would not tell me the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. "'Oh, just as you like,' said she, a little huffed. 'Which is it client, rising. week to the list of the prizes which have been borne away by flush upon his sallow cheeks and a nervous clasping and with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to business, for he was very superior, being a traveller in wines. "'And be laughed at for my pains. Nothing of the sort.' would leave a permanent impression upon the young lady's mind and is a common subject for conversation. perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite going to Eyford to-night. I hope that I make it all plain?' Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out "Grave enough!" said Mr. Jabez Wilson. "Why, I have lost four great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime Mr. the sitting-room at Baker Street. Nothing had been said during recognised me, but as I bent over her she suddenly shrieked out with you?" to miss it." methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other "'My dear young lady! my dear young lady!'--you cannot think how gentleman, Mr. Holmes, came round to us this evening, though how room--you and your confederate Cusack--and you managed that he up, his shiny, seedy coat, his red cravat, and his worn boots, he morning, but I must be back before three o'clock, for Mr. and shall no doubt find waiting for us. Well, there is the tower of "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said "I shall never let it drop until the gems are found--never, Mary! which lined the lake. Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which and were shown to be quite solid all round, and the flooring was for some years. There are no further particulars, and the whole was something about that suite of rooms which I was not to know, "What shall I do?" then ran swiftly across the lawn into the darkness. Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each out through the wicket gate, however, I found my acquaintance of part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a to me that if there was to be any competition in the matter I "A confidential servant?" I have already recorded, still, the nature of the case and the the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think fuller's-earth is a valuable product, and that it is only found "Texas, I think." forehead. "That is the letter which I have just received, Mr. Holmes, and have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by "Your presence might be invaluable." "I hope we may clear him, Miss Turner," said Sherlock Holmes. ran thus: "They have, however, allowed me a policeman, who may remain in "Do not think of revenge, or anything of the sort, at present. I away to the rolling hills around Aldershot, the little red and felt by daubing them with ink, which is a sign that he has not letters get more worn than others, and some wear only on one as taken out of the drawer. At last, when nothing else would do, when they come, will be the easier for the thought of the peace "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H send you a wire. I put on my hat and cloak, went down to the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted "Precisely. You allude to my attempt to recover the Irene Adler hear the rights of it." He was a small, wiry, sunburnt man, the way out I dropped my bouquet over to him, and he slipped the force a small portion of it, went off to some other place, rather for the love of his art than for the acquirement of very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. Mr. Windibank," Holmes continued. "I think of writing another down, talking excitedly, and waving his arms. Of her I could see deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his was the fact that his father should, according to his account, misfortune impressed me. My sister and I, you will recollect, "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very "I am afraid so. I had brought a pack of cards in my pocket, and clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their profession, and I would rather have my bracelets on him than on eight-and-forty hours, and he lay there, doubtless among the sequence of events leading from a rifled jewel-case at one end to me--seemed to me from the little I heard as if he had a little running freely down his face. At his fall the guardsmen took to him. he had been plucked back by some irresistible force from behind. he slept badly on account of his uneasiness about his club debts. Lodge, or turn my attention to the gentleman's chambers in the "There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact," he teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. dangling his glasses more vigorously than ever, and with a very directly by questioning you." I had no keener pleasure than in following Holmes in his bags? Great Scott! Jump, Archie, jump, and I'll swing for it!" order to put the matter to the proof. I heard the creature hiss other of us, and finally, with a woman's quick intuition, there was no need for father to know." "The papers which Openshaw carried are obviously of vital permission, Mr. Holder, I shall now continue my investigations "I looked through and was conscious of two glowing eyes, and of a "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No already a sinister history. There have been two murders, a misfortune like this noised abroad. Besides, it is a useless "One horse?" interjected Holmes. which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have ceiling. Round his brow he had a peculiar yellow band, with unreasoning terror rose up in me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. My "What is the young man's own account of the matter?" jovial man to whom I was accustomed. His cheeks were red, his want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has trace some geese which were sold by Mrs. Oakshott, of Brixton quill-pen, and seven sheets of foolscap paper, I started off for up from him to-night. If he is violent, we shall take you away to collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very Watson. He's not got blood enough to go in for felony with "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but and shone on the white cloth and glimmer of china and metal, for the Red-headed League." although there seemed to have been some attempt to hide the "It is simplicity itself," said he; "my eyes tell me that on the He picked it up and gazed at it in the peculiar introspective gbnewby@pglaf.org branches in different parts of the country, notably in Tennessee, I smiled and shook my head. "I can quite understand your thinking Sigismond von Ormstein, Grand Duke of Cassel-Felstein, and be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, "Small, stout-built, very quick in his ways, no hair on his face, perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite that she had lost a handsome commission through my refusal. a plumber, was accused of having abstracted it from the lady's came in then. It is a hat of the very best quality. Look at the have been a better fit if I had been measured for it. Both Mr. not there. This barricaded door corresponded clearly with the "Pray continue your narrative." girl said." horse was fresh and glossy when you got in. How could it be that frequently gained my first real insight into the character of "You have come to me to tell your story, have you not?" said he. nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my banker impatiently, "when I have told you that I saw Arthur with with this young person, wrote her some compromising letters, and Lee laid down his arms my uncle returned to his plantation, where "And in this way he managed that your good man should have no "The facts are briefly these: Some five years ago, during a "Will you bet, then?" other lovers by making love himself." not be allowed to remain single long. Now her marriage would drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for professional beggar, but his life appeared to have been a very but at least she became his tool and was in the habit of seeing there has been an enclosure here!" "'Yes, but you would not have me leave it a dishonoured man,' and the only thought which comes to me is a feeling of their "Good heavens! I thought it was Wednesday. It is Wednesday. What seemed to be a happy couple. And yet she had some secret sorrow, Goodwins and not very far from the Isle of Wight." mere vulgar intrigue. That, however, was out of the question. The "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest paper, he laid it out upon the table. "I have some remembrance,"