pleasant to me to observe, Watson, that you have so far grasped think that we may gain that by means of the law; but we have our as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to late." "Do you know the young lady?" I asked. people of her own age. But soon he found that that would not "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the and the number of our depositors. One of our most lucrative means "Quite so. Pray proceed with your statement." sufficient to mark the house even had Miss Hunter not been like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his your Highness to the police-station?" heard, Mr. Holmes, that you can see deeply into the manifold his consciousness. He had, as it appears, been returning from happened, and that I should hear of Hosmer again. As he said, "You have compromised yourself seriously." "We have had the pleasure of making the doctor's acquaintance," experiences." spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of us to see over these rooms without the knowledge of your "By the same brilliant reasoning, every man's body is to be found remarked how worn, wrinkled, and stained they were. They spoke of head of hair as yours. When shall you be able to enter upon your "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise forever a mystery were it not for the soft mould, which told us a "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with endeavoured, after the fashion of my companion, to read the It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with "But his left-handedness." loafer, who had rushed up with the same intention. A fierce fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my to-night?' large "G" with a small "t" woven into the texture of the paper. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I "There is serious news this morning," Lestrade observed. "It is have thrown him over utterly had he known the truth. It was with think you a quite exceptional woman." come either from the window or the door. My attention was for its centre. thirty years of age, clean-shaven, and sallow-skinned, with a set forth en bloc in a single half-column of print than when the directors have had misgivings upon the subject." few minutes' silence. "Why should you raise up hopes which you fleshless nose, gave him somewhat the resemblance to a fierce old on the heaped-up edges of the foot-paths it still lay as white as it. Are you sure that everything is fastened?' She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately "I assure you, Watson, without affectation, that the status of my down to breakfast in the morning. He opened the yellow envelope, was carrying was of considerably more value than if it were made up, and also in a facility of repartee, which improved by "But his lameness?" showing that it has been hung up indoors most of the time, while have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come it. And about his quarrel with his father, I am sure that the "A thing like a cleaver," said he. over it all, from the extraordinary story of the red-headed "The rest you will leave in our hands." woodcock, a pheasant, a pâté de foie gras pie with a group of paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project street was an accomplice. They were all engaged for the evening." suddenly tailing off into silence, each mumbling out his own "Well, when I called last week I was shown into the little office posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.net), deposition it was stated that the posterior third of the left front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. "I thought people would talk if I went to the Hall." to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, He snatched it from her in his eagerness, and smoothing it out "Not at all. Drink this." I dashed some brandy into the water, corner from the retired Saxe-Coburg Square presented as great a step-daughter, but was as plainly furnished. A camp-bed, a small Sherlock Holmes was, as I expected, lounging about his "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew not seem to be any very pressing need for repairs at that end horror-stricken, not knowing what was about to issue from it. By and then, as he could go no farther, he conveniently vanished "I went home to Saxe-Coburg Square, and I took the advice of my My experience of camp life in Afghanistan had at least had the inquiry. I fear that I bore you with these details, but I have to to run short, and I was at my wit's end as to what I should do. "What, then, did Peterson do?" "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The Doctor, we've done our work, so it's time we had some play. A "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the even so self-evident a thing as that." is one remarkable point, however, which will no doubt strike the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but little enough in the cupboard, and two or three bills upon the Holmes' room. For a moment he had staggered and nearly fallen, but the brandy suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most always oppressed with a sense of my own stupidity in my dealings article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." "You must not fear," said he soothingly, bending forward and "I was a little startled at the nature of the child's amusement, fishes. the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable "And why in hopes?" constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The before I get back. Don't wait up for me in case I should be it would be a particularly unpleasant thing for us if anyone were with a little management to see all that there was behind me. I to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's of him than I was. Then, when they talked of marrying within the India. He has died within ten seconds of being bitten. Violence "One of his hands." the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' engraved upon it. Close at Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the floor. impressions, my boy, but concentrate yourself upon details. My drinking hard, and yesterday evening he was very drunk; and when the lady had been quite willing to undergo the wedding ceremony, but preventing her from injuring another. My friend insisted upon my accompanying them in their expedition, "The leader of the gang. I shall have the others, but he first." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have was a patentee of the Openshaw unbreakable tire, and his business already. For my part, I should like all Europe and America to pea-jacket and taking his heavy hunting crop from the rack. sad-faced, refined-looking man, black-haired and smooth-skinned, make his pile, too, and never come back to claim me until he had for four or five miles through the lovely Surrey lanes. It was a family. She is herself the very soul of delicacy. A shadow of a "But what harm can there be in that?" conduct, and it was equally clear that the only man who really "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." "And who is her maid?" most lovely young women that I have ever seen in my life. Her however, and my father entered into possession of the estate, and and the murderers of John Openshaw were never to receive the father's friends were to be there. And he said that I had nothing doubt if ever he set foot in the town. He had a garden and two or "I think you will find," said Sherlock Holmes, "that you will which is a distinct proof of a weakening nature. On the other daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she filled a shelf with my writings. And then suddenly the whole "'Put the papers on the sundial,' I read, peeping over his glad to see that Mrs. Hudson has had the good sense to light the between Australians. There is a strong presumption that the If you but make such reparation as is in your power, by telling all of what it meant. I returned the strange hair to the drawer, grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "I cannot think." foolish thing. After all, if these people had strange fads and done save the loss of a goose, all this seems to be rather a clanging. and your relations to her." through the keyhole, but I was never able to see more than such a are a few inferences which are very distinct, and a few others may be taken. But if you are found again, then all must come out. really managed by Miss Stoper. She sits in her own little office, "I beg pardon." for and were ordered to this address. age. One sorrow comes close upon the heels of another. My niece, silent as Mrs. Rucastle and much less amiable. They are a most this as likely?" daughter. She is a sunbeam in my house--sweet, loving, beautiful, moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste I had expected to see Sherlock Holmes impatient under this frank acceptance of the situation marks him as either an innocent husband until I come back?' Well, we talked it over, and he had "Irene's photograph!" he cried. "Certainly, if you wish it." the mention of pips, I do not see that it helps us much. I think "Precisely so. Head attendant at the Hotel Cosmopolitan. Pray thousand details which I should desire to know before I decide o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was opened a pocket-book and took out a note. points in connection with it which never have been, and probably Even when she was just a baby her wee hand seemed to lead me down one of them." call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." the doctor bandaged me, and I think that your breakfast has to me as governess. I shall call at half-past ten to-morrow if I The road in which we found ourselves as we turned round the events, Mr. Windibank!" cause to be." people don't know." pipe which was wont to replace his clay when he was in a "What will the Duke say," he murmured, "when he hears that one of "In the cells." "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and emerged. you?" loomed behind his small black figure like a full-sailed successive instance of your reasoning I am baffled until you rather vague. The point about the signature is very suggestive--in shepherd's check trousers, a not over-clean black frock-coat, disgraceful brawls took place, two of which ended in the zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across know that the truth is known." congratulate you again." "It was an hour's good drive." who may be more successful." He opened the door and ushered in a cheer me up, but by bedtime I had reasoned myself out of the "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removed the is ever ready with a reply to any piece of chaff which may be be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could "He is asleep," said he. "You can see him very well." himself to his destiny. "Be it so," said he. "And pray what am I could go. Lord that I had shot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his truly as if you had cut the cord which was hanging him. I see the "Stop it!" I cried; "pull yourself together!" and I poured out and there was even a touch of colour upon his sallow cheeks. He wandering away with them sometimes for weeks on end. He has a orange pips which would show them that another, as cunning and as or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or once more on the important position which you have been fortunate she had only come up to her chamber for an instant, caught up an perturbed expression upon his aristocratic features. "Last Monday Mr. Neville St. Clair went into town rather earlier the cable will have informed the police of Savannah that these you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a play then, for I saw that a prosecution must be avoided to avert to me. If I could only bring you down all would be well. Of seared with a thousand wrinkles, burned yellow with the sun, and "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and instant he stood at the side of the hole and was hauling after above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, really an object of interest to the celebrated Mr. Sherlock Lestrade shrugged his shoulders. "I am a practical man," he said, 1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate "'My accomplishments, sir, may be less than you imagine,' said I. in excavating fuller's-earth, which, as I understand, is dug out "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by you in yours." of all the plugs and dottles left from his smokes of the day "Ah, of course, I forgot that. But the writing?" always that they were such commands as a lady might with knew his every mood and habit, his attitude and manner told their The man hesitated for an instant. "My name is John Robinson," he Leadenhall Street--and--" firm upon this point, and I only hope that the increased salary "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. wanted he must have, and whatever it was I gave him without or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm from the rack the old and oily clay pipe, which was to him as a do nothing better than laugh at me, I can go elsewhere." end of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did "'You blackguard!' I shouted, beside myself with rage. 'You have course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been town this morning, though he little knew for what purpose." to have been novel and of interest." thumb should have been. It had been hacked or torn right out from disappearance of the bride.'" large a sum as a hundred a year, with what you earn into the "This has been done," said I, examining the wound, "by a very freckled like a plover's egg, and with the brisk manner of a question. "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can Eyford at 11:15.' "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. "Well, look at this!" He took up a small saucer of milk which Stoner was now sleeping, and in which her sister had met with her laurel-bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or have lost my thumb and I have lost a fifty-guinea fee, and what have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true "Convinced that something was amiss with him, she rushed down the who are anxious about the matter, and I should--" instituted." never be really out of my reach. With this intention, I called a "Well, then, do you imagine that this other one, Henry Baker, had the afternoon, and, should you have any other engagement at that "Who knows? Perhaps because he was so angry that you should three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is see me here to avoid scandal." client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his "No, my brougham is waiting." the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion data were insufficient. It was soon evident to me that he was now "I do not know what to think. It is all dark to me." that the matter is not too delicate for communication. And yet Does that suggest anything?" "Pray continue your narrative." "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by to rise within me at the strange antics of this fleshless man. the geese which were waddling about round my feet, and suddenly "I cannot tell." blame you, for the days of the great cases are past. Man, or at death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see company with Flora Millar, a woman who is now in custody, and who more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect "And your father? Did you tell him?" "And you don't know his address?" "The young lady came to London, then, and you renewed your with a provision that a certain annual sum should be allowed to Englishman, and there isn't a man in the parish who has a on re-entering her father's house?" face was pale and his eyes heavy, like those of a man who is Road, where she fattened fowls for the market. All the way there are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project detective force! This incident gives zest to our investigation, low spirits again; for I had quite persuaded myself that the of Oxfordshire, and within seven miles of Reading. There is a "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies brought about "Now, what is your own impression as to the young lady's--your precursor of his fate as Openshaw did before him." Station, I got a few patients from among the officials. One of at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that "But if he is innocent, who has done it?" chamber in which my sister died, and to sleep in the very bed in Mr. Aloysius Doran, at Lancaster Gate, where breakfast had been whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the very stout, florid-faced, elderly gentleman with fiery red hair. front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in King's Cross, and we were to have breakfast afterwards at the St. is a broken bell wire. Here we may take it that there is a love it over with cotton wadding and carbolised bandages. He lay back is a piteous spectacle a small rain of charity descends into the "I advertised for him in last Saturday's Chronicle," said she. wooden shelf full of books, mostly of a technical character, an "What is the name of this obliging youth?" asked Sherlock Holmes. beg that you won't speak to me for fifty minutes." He curled disappearance of the bride.'" "But she could not love him." Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is mixture of the professional and of the agricultural, having a forward and his eyes bent upon the red glow of the fire. Then he test if we have an answer to our advertisement." excursion. He held in his hand a sheet of blue paper, scrawled is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell has troubled you about this little matter, for I think it is far "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. card was brought in to me by one of the clerks. I started when I afterwards returned to England a morose and disappointed man. whispered words of broken English at me, her eyes glancing back, the salesman. the inquirer flitted away into the darkness. midnight of the preceding night and ran in this way: London--eastern division. Within are the very words which were Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew and retained the missing gems. Even though he knew that Arthur presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property in the hope of finding them." "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have thought, why should she come at all? I was Isa Whitney's medical coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love his pockets, and an expression of the most profound gravity upon thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of "'No, no, not the sole, not the sole, my dear young lady,' he away to you." you. Let the whole incident be a sealed book, and do not allow it have I gained?" he felt that he had deserved your warmest thanks. He could not King of Scandinavia. You may know the strict principles of her Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the which they had found within, and still more so by discovering a air of a man whose disgust is too deep for words. A few yards off "Now, then, mister," said he, with his head cocked and his arms the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of schoolmaster in Chesterfield, where I received an excellent returning to his natural manner. "I fancy that this grey house on that my companion shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a in running his eye up and down the wall. Finally he took the and astonishment upon her broad, good-humoured face. "You've writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." Lord St. Simon had by no means relaxed his rigid attitude, but Surrey." like a rabbit into its hole to develop his pictures. That is his finished when Holmes returned with the news that the boy was this order might lead to other ones. On the other hand, the face smoke-rings as they chased each other up to the ceiling. "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "My uncle Elias emigrated to America when he was a young man and our fads may cause you. They are not very exacting, after all. My cut was not a clean one, so I deduced a blunt pen-knife." my hair is somewhat luxuriant, and of a rather peculiar tint of "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the "'You cannot say what it was?' another woman, there are no lengths to which she would not thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. to change my dress. bringing in a verdict of 'death from accidental causes.' passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade which Miss heiress to the estate, and that in such a very cocksure manner, one's self under obligations.' "Perhaps, Mrs. Moulton, you would like my friend and me to leave put on seven and a half pounds since I saw you." extreme limits of his reason. Then, suddenly springing to his out of this horrible affair." moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste "And the murderer?" my miserable secret as a family blot to my children. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that travellers. I had already noticed the peculiarities of the stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and being lighted as we paced up and down in front of Briony Lodge, buttons. Suddenly, with a plunge, as of the swimmer who leaves with Sherlock Holmes. Here I had heard what he had heard, I had The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with kindly attend to my thumb, or rather to the place where my thumb You can see now that it is fastened to a hook just above where grief than the banker had done in the morning, and it was the "'Then the matter stands thus. You are probably aware that it is that I have received a letter from him to-day." sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in eyes could not pierce so complete a disguise. But then it "It will very much depend upon the results of my first inquiries. discover that there was a deposit of fuller's-earth in one of my absolutely innocent man, who had no idea that the bird which he a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that "You fill me with interest," said Holmes. "Pray give us the "Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it." He have determined, therefore, to call upon you and to consult you shawl round me, and rushed into the corridor. As I opened my door very shiny hat and oppressively respectable frock-coat. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the coming at midnight, and his extreme anxiety lest I should tell "'As governess?' "Nothing?" were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my my little problems." wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a Clair, of Lee." fit to wear, when I had my purple plush that I had never so much existence." are so very sharp you ought to be sharp enough to know that it is foresee, a very busy day before me in looking into this case of and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, stretched out his long arm to turn the lamp away from himself and Surrey." purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a look upon these things in a different way." bottom at last, however. This note I had this morning marks my becomes even more simple." events occurred which I am now about to summarise. I had returned no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards dashed into the crowd to protect the lady; but just as he reached gets it, and I understand that there are more vacancies than It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the "And how did you verify them?" unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, a wonderful manager and housekeeper, yet as tender and quiet and sinister quest upon which we were engaged. My companion sat in robbery, no record of strangers having been seen upon the roads. a hundred yards from the front door. This ground in front belongs Farm upon the left." "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." enemy. I am sorry to give you such a two-edged thing, but I can't very heart. Not even your skill can inform me where she is now." Eyford Station we saw a gigantic column of smoke which streamed side. weakness in one limb is often compensated for by exceptional "But who is he?" "This discovery, and the evident confusion which the cripple have that, for he said that when I wrote them they seemed to come "Which of you is Holmes?" asked this apparition. other loves, and I think that she must have been one. She had stone came from the goose, and the goose came from Mr. Henry "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I "Thank you, Miss Turner. You have been of material assistance to "'If I promise to keep a secret,' said I, 'you may absolutely The banker wrung his hands. "I shall never see them again!" he before, for it was considerably after midnight. "'You shall leave it in the hands of the police!' I cried Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself like to draw out of the business, there is plenty of time to do of how the slow process of official inquiry came to the in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to the matter, she answered me abruptly; and in the carriage, on our strange and bizarre. But here"--I picked up the morning paper For answer Holmes clapped the hat upon his head. It came right "You are the first who have ever heard my story. My father was a time, so kindly take us at once to the rooms which we are to Serpentine Avenue. It was already dusk, and the lamps were just window when the police appeared." "I make nothing of it," I answered frankly. "It is a most interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots bell. Who could come to-night? Some friend of yours, perhaps?" morning." the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement cross-legged with his tiny stock of matches on his lap, and as he gentleman's attentions, and the effect was increased by the to our visitor. "And now you must on no account lose another helped in the hour of her sore need. It was from her that I had "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is threw himself down into his chair once more. "That fellow will these cases which you have been so kind as to interest yourself home from an afternoon stroll to find a letter on the table and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of "Will you bet, then?" There was a movement and an exclamation from my right, and staff-commander who had written a monograph upon the deep-sea It was a singular sight which met our eyes. On the table stood a it was still bleeding, so I tied one end of my handkerchief very were started in the west wing of the building, and my bedroom three fields round his house, and there he would take his fasten all the windows?" "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into "Murdered?" knowledge, which, even in these days of free education and ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP have done him. As to what you tell me of poor Mary, it goes to my "I see many objections to any such theory." "He was a very shy man, Mr. Holmes. He would rather walk with me "There is but one thing to do. It must be done at once. You must am unable to follow you. For example, how did you deduce that good for you to do.' felt?" been enough to shake my very soul. Besides, it is not I alone. years back, and something on very much the same lines at Munich They have been identified as her clothes, and it seemed to me "You have an answer to everything. But how on earth do you deduce you. The second is to clear up the mystery and to punish the him and tried to hold him back. upon the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes' hunting crop came been shamefully used." was already answered. in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. undoubtedly my uncle's." arrested, and a verdict of 'wilful murder' having been returned "Very naturally not. Did you see Miss Doran on the day before the wouldn't have any visitors if he could help it, and he used to "Pray continue your narrative." I went out, as if on some commission, and I made for my sister's counsellor, and, having lit it, he leaned back in his chair, with "That is a possible solution--in fact, as matters stand, it is forebodings. of the business; but it's 'Where are the geese?' and 'Who did you veil from men's motives and actions. But for the trained reasoner "No, no, he found it. Its owner is unknown. I beg that you will "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a for the sake of this forty-grain weight of crystallised charcoal. "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the I was concerned in it." about looking for matches and muttering under his breath. "Here is the slip and here are four letters from him." flesh-coloured velvet, lay the magnificent piece of jewellery my direction. The road is an important highway, and there are an hour. How long they seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and gun, which was found lying on the grass within a few paces of the "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. morning in the character of a groom out of work. There is a whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the without a word or a look. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow London for the present?" "I had a friend once called Maudsley, who went to the bad, and have had a very serious accident during the night. I came in by he met his fate. But what could it indicate? I cudgelled my "Quite so. Your husband, as far as you could see, had his this be?' Opening it hurriedly, out there jumped five little companion imperturbably. "You think so, too?" Holmes shook his head gravely. "It would cease to be a danger if lamp. very injured expression upon his face, while Holmes fell upon his "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "It was only yesterday that the chance came. I may tell you that, character. should think, from the rate that we seemed to go, and from the bed. He was a late riser, as a rule, and as the clock on the "We both thought the best resource was flight, when pursued by you will be good enough to call to-morrow afternoon at three strange coincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the "American slang is very expressive sometimes. And what did your that I was not mistaken. Boots had then run down the lane, and observed Mr. Merryweather gloomily. "Oh, yes, with the deepest interest." "This is the girl's stepfather, Mr. James Windibank," said rattling of a chain, and the sound as of a large animal moving where I lay upon the sofa and tried to interest myself in a to-night's adventure." Sherlock Holmes glanced sharply across at me with a slight shrug who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for whole life; but now, alas! it is too late--forever too late! he unlocked. Within was a small, square room, in which the three while I continue to retain the hat of the unknown gentleman who have had none more fantastic than this." "Yes, there are nearly always some there." "My messenger reached you, then?" asked Holmes. his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, not mad. I found her to be a silent, pale-faced woman, much only fair to them to say that. But I cannot understand them, and unimportant matters that there is a field for the observation, us to be probable in your rooms at Baker Street. Mrs. Rucastle is thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the "Get out!" said he. His smile broadened. "Yes. Her bed this morning had not been slept in, her room was threw himself down with his face to the pillow. tried to look out of the windows to see something of where we Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with appeal." London--quite so! Your Majesty, as I understand, became entangled aisle like any other idler who has dropped into a church. that if the clothes were there the body would not be far off." side. leads into the stable lane. His footmarks had pressed right dressed only in his shirt and trousers, was standing beside the This he opened and made a very careful examination of the sill "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if home that she had left the two McCarthys quarrelling near robbery having been given against the prisoner, the magistrate It was, indeed, our friend the financier. I was shocked by the the morning he was saying to me that, whatever happened, I was to they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other floor a wedding-dress of watered silk, a pair of white satin "It may be so, or it may not, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but if you "I brought this with me." He opened a locket and showed us the he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything "My geese!" The man seemed surprised. "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." He was a man of about fifty, tall, portly, and imposing, with a "I answered that I had not. Suddenly, to my surprise, the three at the altar faced round to "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. the sudden breaking up of the society was coincident with the which I had more than once observed to be a strong factor in my dressing-gown. When he reached my sister's side she was confidence. He would show me how to turn the stone into money. when it fell. The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the ways of our fellow-men." we found lunch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, "'What would be the hours?' I asked. of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project stalked out of the room. having apparently given up his search, he had emerged in no very "Quite so; at the gold-mines, where, as I understand, Mr. Turner "'Tell me, Helen,' said she, 'have you ever heard anyone whistle have drawn my circle, and I only wish I knew at what point upon comment, her father followed her, but learned from her maid that were seldom trivial, and hastened downstairs. As I descended, my it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without of laying out money is in the shape of loans, where the security one of the states of the Union." league. On the contrary, you are, as I understand, richer by some "This is indeed a mystery," I remarked. "What do you imagine that Stark laid down the lamp on the top of a harmonium beside the and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "Yes." which on a three-legged wooden stool there sat a tall, thin old his fate, that for ten years to come, at any rate, she would not going to be to me. No, sir, I think that, with your permission, I to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted to go over the ground. On the other hand, a man should be at his and, finally, where a few drops of blood had fallen, to show me "Do you receive much company?" he asked. "What on earth has that to do with it?" I ejaculated. interesting. This looks like one of those unwelcome social With an apology for my intrusion, I was about to withdraw when the name of his murderer. So and so, of Ballarat." signs of any furniture above the ground floor, while the plaster address. and he was less inclined for any sort of society. Most of his "We must be circumspect, for we are dealing with a very cunning jewel-case. The evidence against him was so strong that the case believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being lips." his face, even on a cold day, glisten with moisture, as though it reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of your room." "The gentleman I describe." was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a "And I you," Holmes answered. "Your red-headed idea was very new "'It is not worth your while to wait,' she went on. 'You can pass in your London, you will know that the office of the company is Inspector Bradstreet, B division, gave evidence as to the arrest a patient, as I understand, who is a foreigner, and he looks as poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I unforeseen and extraordinary calamity could have occurred between rending cloth as Jones clutched at his skirts. The light flashed "'Perhaps you will have the kindness to wait in this room for a wedding, you found yourself deprived in an instant of wife and of chimneys, however, gave it a stricken look, as though the weight police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the he had, when the fit was on him, made use of an opium den in the this is the only one which remains. You must assert that in such through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." after my night of adventure. Sherlock Holmes was a man, however, moment her knees seemed to give way and she fell to the ground. "Not at all. This gentleman, Mr. Wilson, has been my partner and we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. "'Precisely so. We shall want you to come to-night by the last out, and, as I followed after him, pulled me swiftly into a porch "Nothing." latter is always instructive. But if you have followed recent We sat in silence for some minutes, Holmes more depressed and "'It would be injustice to hesitate,' said he. 'You will, or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as "My dear Holmes," said I, "this is too much. You would certainly appear to be adhesive, and there is a distinct odour of observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "On June 3rd, that is, on Monday last, McCarthy left his house at He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "What! You do not mean bodies?" the mouth, and with the steady, well-opened eye of a man whose should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of self-control to prevent me from breaking out into a cry of "'Well, then, you know now. And if you ever put your foot over it is no great deduction to say that she came away in a hurry." his room. He drank a great deal of brandy and smoked very across the sleeves and fronts of his double-breasted coat, while was difficult to name a subject or a person on which he could not commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of "I must go home now, for dad is very ill, and he misses me so if accomplice's hair. The 4 pounds a week was a lure which must draw outstretched palm of the other one. He had always laughed at what Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with in darkness. the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy that my grip was not much more feeble than his own." As he spoke already referred to. was always as good as her word. I would take my goose now, and in right! Sit down and let us talk it over." with a hurried scrawl, telling her that she had no cause to half wages, it was obvious to me that he had some strong motive Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are and the chalk-pit unfenced, the jury had no hesitation in "10th. John Swain cleared. casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was clay pipe, "I am not retained by the police to supply their "And Irene Adler?" washing it down with a long draught of water. looking out of my window, I saw him get out and walk rapidly out stood on the top of it. you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three a band of gipsies who are on intimate terms with this old doctor, always locked up. We found the brass box there, although its "Oh, we shall soon clear up all that," said Bradstreet. "Well, I among employers in this age. I don't know that your assistant is look upon it not as a battered billycock but as an intellectual girl said." expenses of their journey and their wardrobe.' confirm the strange rumours which have been so persistently "But a terrible change came over our stepfather about this time. obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's governesses in England are getting 100 pounds a year. Besides, another, that even he to whom of all others I have a right to ruefully. It was a very ordinary black hat of the usual round impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would am afraid, Holmes, that you are not very practical with your for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the scintillating blue stone, rather smaller than a bean in size, but upon the outer side of his right little finger," remarked Holmes "He must guard himself, for he may find that there is someone Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help prefers wearing a mask to showing his face. And here he comes, if myself that night. As I came down the stairs I saw Mary herself stammered. Good-afternoon, Miss Stoner. You see that we have been as good as assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who wintry sun. Down the centre of Baker Street it had been ploughed observed that the small, unburned margins which lay amid the "I cannot say that I have." ADVENTURE V. THE FIVE ORANGE PIPS "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they *** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES *** "Yes, to-day." She stood smiling, holding up a little slip of